Development of microcirculation in full thickness autogenous skin grafts in mice

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The development of the microcirculation in full thickness autogenous skin grafts has been observed in vivo employing a modification of the mouse skin transparent chamber of Merwin and Algire. The skin graft is a stimulus for endothelial budding from the host''s arterioles and venules, not capillaries. Leading endothelial heads progress along the pre-existing graft vessels which act as nonviable conduits. The rate of ingrowth of endothelium is approximately 5 [mu]/hr. The immature plexus of vessels within the graft at approximately 5 days is thin walled and dilated with a slow unidirectional flow; no vasomotion or responsiveness to vasoactive drugs is present. At approximately the 8th day following transplantation, the vessels previously observed mature with differentiation into arterioles, capillaries, and venules. These observations have led the authors to conclude that the vascularization of full thickness autogenous skin grafts in the mouse occurs primarily as an ingrowth of vessels from the host. The pre-existing vessels serve as nonviable conduits.