A porcine model using skin graft chambers for studies on cultured keratinocytes

In wound healing research, animal models permit an extensive tissue analysis which is not normally possible in clinical studies. A morphological comparison of human and porcine skin was made in order to identify those aspects of the wound healing process where a porcine model may help our understanding of clinical problems. We describe a porcine model for evaluating the growth of cultured keratinocytes on a variety of wound beds. Polytetrafluoroethylene skin graft chambers were used to isolate wounds and prevent epidermal healing from the skin edge. The chambers remained in situ for 5-7 weeks. We detail the surgical technique, the method of porcine keratinocyte culture and highlight some practical measures that were taken to optimise the "take" of the cultured keratinocyte grafts.