Human buccal mucosa transplants in nude mice

The development of a model to study tissue interactions in human oral mucosa in vivo utilizing transplantation of human tissue to nude mice is described. Ninety-six samples of normal human buccal mucosa were transplanted to subcutaneous sites in the flank region of nude mice and were protected from overlying cutaneous and subcutaneous tissue by polyethylene capsules or by Millipore filters. Transplant recovery rates were 47% an 69%, respectively. The histologic features of the epithelium of transplanted specimens were compared to 20 biopsies of normal buccal mucosa. The epithelium of transplants maintained for 3 weeks or longer with either type of protection, maintained features essentially similar to the normal controls but was somewhat thinner.