The isolation of human sebaceous glands and apocrine sweat glands by shearing

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Abstract
A new method of isolating human sebaceous and apocrine sweat glands by the repeated dissection of skin biopsies with scissors is described. The success of the technique is attributed to a line of weakness between the investing capsule and the surrounding connective tissue which parts under shear forces. The glands are judged to be viable by; (i) light and electron microscopy; (ii) ATP, ADP and AMP contents of 148.8±30.3, 30.6±4.7 and 14.9±4.7 pmol (mean±s.e.m.) for sebaceous glands and 310.2±34.1, 90.35±16.3 and 40.1±11.8 pmol (mean±s.e.m.) for apocrine sweat glands, which gave energy charges of 0.84 and 0.81, respectively; and (iii) a rate of sebaceous gland lipogenesis of 39.7±3.7 pmol glucose incorporated into lipid/gland/h (mean±s.e.m.)