Microblister Formation in Vesicant-Exposed Pig Skin

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Abstract
Six pigs were cutaneously exposed for 1 hr to high doses of sulfur mustard (HD) by both direct droplet contact and indirect vapor. Tissue was harvested for microscopic examination after 72 hr. Three other pigs were cutaneously exposed to HD and lewisite (L) by droplet streak application. Histologically, all test subjects exhibited microvesicle formations of varying intensities. Vapor exposures produced diffuse lesions of lesser severity than lesions induced by direct droplet or droplet streak exposures, which affected smaller areas but to a greater depth. Blistering is a pathologic change commonly observed in human skin, but rarely reported in experimental animals. The appearance of microvesicles in HD- and L-exposed pig skin supports the use of this animal as a model for future studies involving HD or L injury.

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