Radial pressure waves mediate apoptosis and functional angiogenesis during wound repair in ApoE deficient mice

Abstract This study aims to quantify by intravital microscopy and histological wound scoring the effect of radial pressure wave treatment (RPWT) on murine incisional wound healing. The dorsal skinfold chamber in mice was used for intravital microscopy, whereby an incisional wound was created within the chamber. RPWT to the wound was carried out using a ballistic pressure wave source (EMS Swiss DolorClast). Animals received a dose of 500 pulses at an energy flux rate of 0.1 mJ/mm 2 and a frequency of 3 Hz at day 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 post wounding. RPW treated and untreated ApoE depleted mice (ApoE −/− ) were compared to normal healing wild type animals (WT). The microcirculation of the wound was analyzed quantitatively in vivo using epi-illumination intravital fluorescence microscopy. Tissue samples were examined ex vivo for wound scoring and immunohistochemistry. Upon RPWT total wound score in ApoE −/− mice was increased by 13% (not significant) on day 3, by 37% on day 7 (P  −/− mice. Improved wound healing was associated with an increase of functional angiogenetic density by 23% (not significant) on day 5, by 36% on day 7 (P  −/− mice by increasing functional neovascular density. In addition our findings strongly suggest that RPW may facilitate the linear progression of wound healing phases by fostering apoptosis.