The investigation on the skin graft by epithelial cells culture

Introduction. Due to high incidence of skin damages, finding new methods for skin transplanta tion is quite important. The a im of this study was to produce normal skin by culture of epithelial cells and to examine its autologus graft. Materials and Methods. 4 male albino rabbits (4 months ) were used. At the first from one of the rabbits a piece of skin (6 x 6 ern) separated from back region and placed in MEM an d FCS solutio n as a suppo rting surface. From a no ther rabbit, a piece of skin (2 x l cm) separ ated and divided into small particles and placed on the de I'm of supporting su rface . By two other rabbits, this process was accomplished once more. After preparation it grafted to the sec ond rabbit. After 4 weeks the animal killed and the gr aft ed region se parat ed and prepared for hist ological study by two staining methods. Results. The res ults show th at in the grafted regi on, epiderm is normal but outer layer (cornea) is thiner than normal skin. Histological studies have been shown th at skin elements were decreased, sweat glands were not found, repair was started from margin of ulce r, rete ridges were littl e and short, collagen of derm was regulated and vessels were dilated. Conclusion. With this method, the donor skin can be expanded to several times and used for autologus skin graft.