OBJECTIVETo explore a method for in vivo skin reconstruction.

METHODSThirty Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into two paired groups, i.e. in vivo culture (A group, 10 pairs) and in vitro grafting (B group, 5 pairs). Skin samples were harvested from the rats of the two groups for the isolation of epithelial cells which were then mixed cultured in vitro in 1:1 ratio. Mixed cellular suspension in A group was harvested 4 days after culture. The mixed cellular sheets were harvested 14 days after culture. The cultured cells and sheets were then transplanted onto total skin loss wounds of donor rats for further cultivation. The wounds in A group were covered with allogeneic full-thickness skin. While the wounds in B group were covered by collagen membrane and gauze. Wound repair was observed and compared between the two groups at 2 - 3 post-operative weeks.

RESULTSMost of the wounds in A group healed after 2 - 3 weeks with smooth surface, and the peithelium connected closely and tightly with the subcutaneous tissue. In the wounds in B group on 5 post-operative day, some of the cellular sheets survived and some fell off. Even the healed wounds in B group would be injured again resulting in protracted small wounds.

CONCLUSIONIn vivo in situ epithelial culture might be an optional method of skin reconstruction for wound healing.