ABSTRACT
Objective@#To identify a pig model with bilateral external ear defects accompanied by aural atresia and investigate its application in plastic surgery.@*Methods@#Erhualian×Shaziling F2 pig inbreeding population was introduced, and examination of external ear morphology was conducted in all individuals. Temporal computed tomography scanning and mutational detection of HOXA1 gene were conducted in one affected and one normal individuals.@*Results@#In Erhualian×Shaziling F2 pig inbreeding population, there were 57 normal and 18 affected individuals among the 75 pigs. Affected subjects presented bilateral external ear defects accompanied by aural atresia; temporal computed tomography scanning showed bilateral aural atresia and dysplasiaof middle ear; and gene detection identified homozygous mutation of HOXA1 gene.@*Conclusions@#Pig model with HOXA1 gene homozygous mutation resembles human microtia at different levels. Our findings provide the theoretical basis for its application to study further pathological mechanism for human microtia.