Abstract: Objective To study the expression of procaspase-3 and its activation as well as its enzymatic activity during healing of incised skin wound in mice. Methods The expression of procaspase-3 and its activation were studied on skin incised wound at different posttraumatic intervals in 33 tested mice and 3 control mice by colorimetric measurement of proteolytic activity and Western blotting. Results Caspase-3 activity and procaspse-3 protein levels showed continued increase with prolonged posttraumatic intervals. cleaved P17 fragment of caspase-3 was also detected by Western blotting. Conclusion Our data suggest that caspase-3 appears to play a role in cell apoptosis during the healing process of skin wound, and caspase-3 may be used as a marker for estimation of post-traumatic interval in skin wound.

Key words: incised skin wounds, apoptosis, caspase-3, post traumatic interval, western blotting, colorimetric assay