Objective:To explore the expression of MIP-1α during healing of skin incised wound and the applicability of time-dependent expressions of MIP-1α to determination of wound age. Methods:An incised wound was made in the dorsal skin of mouse. Immunohistochemical and image-analysis techniques were employed in vital skin wounds 1h~14d after incision and postmortem incision 0.5~6h after death

and the non-incised mouse skin was used as contro1.Results:In the vital skin incisions

expression of MIP-1α began at 6h after incision

which increased subsequently

and peaked at 3d.The quantity of MIP-1αexpression decreased and minimized in the specimens aged 14 days. In the non-wounded groups and postmortem incision groups MIP-1α was only detected as weak expression in the epidermic cells

sweat gland cells and endothelial cells. Conclusion:The time-dependent expression of MIP-1αduring healing of skin incised wound may be used as a useful reference marker.