Abstract: Objective To establish and evaluate a new mouse model of allergic contact dermatitis （ACD）-primary ACD mouse model. Methods To establish classical ACD mouse model, mice were sensitized with 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene （DNFB） on day 1 and elicited with DNFB on day 6, and primary ACD mouse model was built by painting of 10 μL 0.2% DNFB once on the ear. Mice were killed 24 hours after the elicitation in classical model group and 6 days after the sensitization in primary model group; skin specimens were obtained from the right ear of these mice. Ear swelling after painting was used as clinical index. ELISA and real time RT-PCR were performed to measure the expression of IL-2, IFN-γ and IL-4 in these specimens. Local lymph node assay was carried out and flow cytometry was used to detect the proliferation and activation of T lymphocytes in local lymph nodes. Results Ear swelling response was observed 6 days after ear challenge with DNFB in primary ACD, which was the same as the time interval from back elicitation to occurrence of ear inflammation in classical ACD. Kinetics of the inflammatory response to DNFB during primary ACD was similar to that during classical ACD. In both models，the ear tissues were mainly infiltrated by mononuclear cells; a significant increase was observed in the tissue levels of IL-2 and INF-γ as well as in the proliferation and activation of T lymphocytes in local lymph nodes; while there were no significant changes in the level of IL-4, compared with the normal control mice. Conclusions Similar to classical ACD, Th1 type cell-mediated immune responses were reproduced in primary ACD mouse model, and each model can take the place of the other in comparative research.