Abstract: Fibroblasts were isolated from human scar tissue and identified by vimentin immunohistochemistry staining.MTT assay was used to examine the proliferation of the fibroblasts,then the inhibition rate was calculated．Apoptosis and its index in each group were determined by TUNEL assay.Fullthickness wounds down to cartilage were created in the ventral side (both sides) of ears of New Zealand rabbit,6 wounds for each ear.Twenty-eight days after the wounds initiated,hirudin ointment was applied to the hypertrophic scars three times a day for 28 days.56 days after ear skin wounds created,the rabbits were scarified,and scars were harvested and stained with H&E and VG staining.Hypertrophy index (HI),numerical density of fibroblasts on area (NA) and area density of collagen fibers on area (AA) were measured and calculated under microscope.The results showed that hirudin can inhibit the proliferation of fibroblasts in human skin scars.Hirudin ointment had practical potentialities in treatment and prevention of animal skin scar hyperplasia.

Key words: skin, hypertrophic scar, hibroblasts, hirudin, ointment