Repair of excisional wounds in the embryo

Abstract

Wound healing in the embryo, just as in the adult, comprises two tissue movements: re-epithelialisation and connective-tissue contraction. In this brief review we describe our recent studies of these two movements in both chick and rodent embryo model systems. In the chick we have evidence that the embryonic wound epidermis is drawn forwards by contraction of an actin pursestring extending around the circumference of the wound, rather than by lamellipodial crawling as in adult healing. Significant connective-tissue contraction also occurs. In the rat and mouse embryo we have examined expression of transcription factors and growth factors at the wound edge. We discuss our observations that the immediate-early gene c-fos and the growth factor transforming growth factor beta-1 are rapidly induced at the embryonic wound margin, and the possibility that these signals may trigger proliferation of wound edge cells and contraction of the exposed wound mesenchyme.