Objective:To investigate the expression regulation of E-selectin and intercellular adhesion molecule-1(ICAM-1) in the heading process of incised wounds of rat skin and its significance in forensic medicine. Methods: After establ ishment of model

a study on the expression of E-selectin and ICAM-1 in vital rats skin incised wounds at different times were performed by immunohistochemistry technique

and evaluated with image analysis technique and statistic system. Results:There was no expre -ssion of E-selectin in the skin of normal control group. Positive expression of E-selectin could be observed on epidermis cells surface around injury 1h after injury.The expression level of E-selectin reached its peak on day 1 and then started to decline

lasted till day 7.The ratios of E-selectin positive vascular endothelial cells changed regularly according to different time after wound.In the vital skin incisions

while positive stain of ICAM-1 stain was observed on vascular endothelium as early as 1h after incision and lasted till 3d.In addition

the expression of ICAM-1 was also found in the inflammatory cells and fibroblasts and on vascular endothelium surface around injury

the lasting period varied from group to group There were no positive expression of E-selectin and ICAM-1 in the postmortem incision group.Conclusion:E-selectin and ICAM-1 are considered potentially useful markers for timing of wound age determination in forensic practice.