Feasibility of Human Skin Grafts on an Isolated but Accessible Vascular Supply on Athymic Rats as a System to Study Percutaneous Penetration and Cutaneous Injury.
Abstract
A model for grafting human skin to a neurovascular island flap is being developed on congenitally athymic nude rats. Success with the model will provide a human skin surface for the study of chemical warfare agents. Applying microsurgery techniques, a neurovascular island flap using syngeneic skin has been successfully established in both the Lewis and nude rats. Early experimentation using human skin for the flap model in nude rats resulted in rejection. The immunologic mechanisms responsible for the rejection phenomenon are unknown. A series of experiments has been initiated to define factors causing the rejection process. Grafts have remained viable in three animals for 12-16 weeks indicating the rejection problem may be resolved. An evaluation of blood flow dynamics has been undertaken since blood flow is significantly related to rates of percutaneous absorption and skin responses to cutaneous injury. Volume blood flow measurement through vessels supplying the flap is being established by use of C-type electromagnetic flow probes, which are applied to the outside of the vessel. Histologic techniques for assessment of cellular responses to cutaneous injury are in process. The techniques are related to quantitatively assessing epidermal DNA synthesis.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1983
- Accession Number
- ADA149246
Entities
People
- G. G. Krueger
- S. E. Huether
Organizations
- University of Utah