Skin reconstitution in SCID mice

In fetal regenerative wound healing, dermal mesenchymal cells directly migrate into the wound and regenerate the dermal structure. On the contrary, loose fascial cells beneath the dermis construct scar tissue in the late stage of development. We co-transplanted fetal epidermal cells and dermal or loose fascial mesenchymal cells onto a skin defect in SCID mice to evaluate the regenerative activity of their skin. The cells used for transplantation were obtained from fetal C57b1 mice on embryonic day 17, and suspended enzymatically. Four weeks after the transplantation, almost normal skin was regenerated in the animals that were transplanted with dermal and epidermal cells. Conversely, scar-like tissue was constructed in the animal wounds into which loose fascial and epidermal cells were transplanted. We found it useful to use this model to evaluate the cutaneous regenerative activity of various cells.