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Abstract
The mouse ear inflammation model was used to establish simple endpoints of skin injury following cutaneous exposure to sulfur mustard (bis(2- chloroethyl)sulfide, HD). Mouse ear edema and histopathologic response to a single topical application of 5 muL of 8, 16, 32, 64, or 128 mg/mL HD in dichloromethane was evaluated at 12, 18, and 24 h postexposure. Edema response was determined from weighed 8 mm diameter skin punch biopsies taken from the center of exposed and control ears. Key light microscopic histopathologic changes assessed on the inner (exposed side) and outer surfaces (contralateral side) of the exposed ear included epidermal necrosis (EN) and epidermal-dermal separation (subepidermal blister, SEB). HD produced statistically significant (p <. 05) dose- and time-dependent changes in edema and histopathologic features. A comparative evaluation of the endpoint responses from the various challenge doses indicated that a dose of 0.16 mg/ear HD evaluated at 24 h postexposure would be optimal for future studies using this mouse ear vesicant model (MEVM) to screen pharmacological compounds that may protect against HD-induced skin damage.