Impact of Stem Cells on Reparative Regeneration in Abdominal and Dorsal Skin in the Rat

The study examined the role of stem cells in healing skin wounds on the abdomen versus the back in male Wistar rats, finding that abdominal wounds healed faster and with less scarring. Abdominal wounds showed a significant reduction in wound area by 18.2% on the 7th day and 3.8% by the 14th day, compared to 76.8% and 17.2% for dorsal wounds. Higher initial proliferation of Ki67+ cells in the abdominal epidermis indicated a more robust regenerative response. The study also noted higher levels of stem cell marker genes (Sox9, Lgr6, Gli1, and Lrig1) in abdominal skin, suggesting that stem cells contribute to more efficient and scarless healing in abdominal skin compared to dorsal skin in rats.