Wound repair and regeneration : official publication of the Wound Healing Society [and] the European Tissue Repair Society
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Burn injury can lead to abnormal sensory function at both the injury and at distant uninjured sites. Here, we used a mouse model to investigate return of nociceptive function and reinnervation of the skin at the wound and uninjured distant sites following a 3% total burn surface area full-thickness burn injury. We have previously shown that topical application of zinc-metallothionein-IIA (Zn(7) -MT-IIA) accelerates healing following burn injury, and here, we investigated the potential of Zn(7) -MT-IIA to enhance reinnervation and sensory recovery. ⋯ In contrast, epidermal nerve densities in the distant uninjured areas returned to normal, uninjured levels. Zn(7) -MT-IIA did not influence return of nociceptive function nor reinnervation. We conclude that burn injury compromises nociceptive function and nerve regeneration both at the injury site and systemically; thus, therapies in addition to Zn(7) -MT-IIA should be explored to return normal sensory function.