Establishment of a Robust and Reproducible Model of Radiation-Induced Skin and Muscle FibrosisYusuf Surucu *1, Fuat Baris Bengur *1, Katherine S. Yang 1, Benjamin K. Schilling 1, Jocelyn S. Baker 1, Sheeba Shabbir 2, Renee Fisher 3, Michael W. Epperly 3, Joel S. Greenberger 3, J. Peter Rubin 1, Asim Ejaz 1
1Department of Plastic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, 2Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, HBS Medical and Dental College, 3Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute
Here we present a protocol to induce radiation-induced skin fibrosis in the hind limb of mice and perform post-irradiation measurements of chronic impairment via limb excursion and gait index analyses to evaluate the functional outcome. The model elucidates radiation-related skin fibrosis mechanisms and is useful in subclinical therapeutic studies.
