Alternative animal model for studies of total skin thickness burns.

PURPOSE To present an alternative experimental model of third degree burn of easy reproducibility. METHODS Eighteen male Wister rats were randomly divided into three groups, 6 of which were allocated to each group. A soldering iron coupled to an aluminum plate was used to produce burn, at a temperature of 150ºC, with different exposure times per group. Group 5 (G5) animals were burned at 150°C with exposure time of 5 seconds; Group 10 (G10) the animals were burned at 150°C with exposure time of 10 seconds and group 15 (G15) the animals were burned at 150°C with exposure time of 15 seconds. RESULTS Histopathological analyzes showed that all three groups had similar morphological characteristics, with total thickness involvement. CONCLUSION The technique is effective to reproduce a third degree burn and suggests the temperature of 150ºC with 5 seconds of exposure in order to minimize the risks to the animals.