Abstract: Objective To establish the model of skin scald in mice for the study of skin thermal injuries. Methods After anaesthetization mice were scalded in a 1 cm-diameter circle area on the central dorsum by boiling water at contact times： 10 s or 25 s. The mice were sacrificed at 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10 days after scald. The skin samples were collected and analyzed by gross and histopathological examinations. Results Deep Ⅱ degree thermal injury involving full-thickness skin was observed in the 10 s scald group. Ⅲ degree thermal injury involving full-thickness skin and the dorsal skeletal muscle was observed in the 25 s scald group. Conclusion A mouse skin scald model is established which is stable and can be used on the skin thermal injury in future research.

Key words: forensic pathology, models, animal, skin, scald, mice