ObjectiveTo investigate the expression of caspase-3 and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in the incised rat skin healing process and its relationship with the wound time and to provide an experimental evidence for the prediction of injury time. MethodsAfter the rat incised wound model was established, hematoxylin-eosin dyeing technology and immunohistochemical staining technique were used to observe the expression of caspase-3 and TLR4. Then Image Pro Plus Image analysis software and SPSS statistical analysis software were used to deal with the experimental results. ResultsCaspase-3- and TLR4-positive cells were detected in epidermis, hair follicle and sebaceous gland cells in the control skin. The expression of caspase-3 and TLR4 of the ante mortem groups were significantly different compared with the control group except the 0 h group (P<0.05). Caspase-3- and TLR4-positive cells were detected in neutrophils around the hair follicle half an hour later. Caspase-3- and TLR4-positive cell rate increased with the infiltration of inflammatory cells. Caspase-3- and TLR4-positive cell rate reached the maximum on the 3 rd day, and then it began to decrease, and they were mainly expressed in fibroblasts and mononuclear macrophages. Caspase-3- and TLR4-positive cells were mainly expressed in fibroblasts on the 10th day. There was no significant differences between the postmortem injury groups and the normal control groups (P>0.05). ConclusionCaspase-3- and TLR4-positive cell rate is time dependent and stable in 25℃ temperature environment which makes it possible to determine the time of injury.