Abstract: Objective To explore the expression of interleukin-10 (IL-10) in different expressive parts and its relationship with the wound age during cutaneous wound healing in mice. Methods Immunohistochemical and morphometrical analysis methods were performed on vital skin wounds. Results In normal and injury mouse skin IL-10 immunoreactivity was observed in epidermal cells. The expression of IL-10 in epidermal cells was already enhanced since 1～3 h after incision, and it returned to lower lever by 24 h, but increased again at 48 h after injury. IL-10 immunoreactivive cells under epidermis were mainly infiltrating mononuclear cells. Morphometrically, the ratio of the number of infiltrating cells was evaluated. A subsequent increase in the IL-10 positive cells was observed in the granulation tissue beyond the wound and in dermal at 6 h after incision, and the maximum ratio was (51.41±3.12)% in a 72 h-old wound. Then the positive cells gradually decreased (29.38±2.64)%～(5.56±4.74)% after incision 96～168h. Conclusions The expression characteristics of IL-10 in different expressive parts should be related to the wound age and morphometry of different expressive parts may be employed for determining the wound age.

Key words: wound healing, wound age estimation, interleukin-10, immunohistochemistry, morphometry