A Technique for Human Skin Grafting in a Mouse Model

Begin with an anesthetized, non-obese diabetic, and immunodeficient mouse that lacks various immune cells.

The mouse is pre-treated with antibodies to block the neutrophil surface receptors and suppress the immune response.

Excise the skin from the mouse's back without damaging the connective tissue and create a graft bed.

Place a human split-thickness skin, comprising the epidermis and a portion of the dermis, on the graft bed, with the epidermis facing up.

Secure it with glue and bandage it to minimize infections and restrain the graft tissue.

During recovery, the graft tissue receives oxygen and nutrients from the mouse skin, facilitating its attachment.

Over time, blood vessels develop between the human skin and the mouse skin.

This helps to establish circulation and infiltration of human immune cells, achieving a successful human skin grafting in the mouse model.

After transferring the mouse to the surgical station, sterilize the surgical area and place a sterile plastic wrap over the mouse. Cut a window in the plastic slightly larger than the size of the area to be grafted.

Hold the donor skin firmly in place with the forceps' backside, and cut a rectangle-shaped 10-by-10 millimeter portion of donor skin to be grafted alongside the forceps with a scalpel. Pull the skin away from the body to avoid cutting deeply into the fascia. To create a graft bed, snip a rectangular area of mouse skin, matching the size of the donor skin piece.

Then, place the donor skin piece with epidermis-side up onto the prepared graft bed. Using the back of the forceps, manipulate the skin, sliding back and forth until the donor skin lies completely flat against the graft bed.

Add surgical glue tissue adhesive drops where the donor skin meets the mouse skin and hold the mouse and donor skin together with forceps for one to two seconds so that the glue adheres to the tissues. Completely seal the graft's edge and allow the glue to dry thoroughly.

Next, cut petrolatum gauze large enough to cover the graft area completely. Cover the graft with the petrolatum gauze and lightly press the gauze against the skin using forceps. Cut a strip of a transparent film dressing lengthwise so that the width is large enough to cover the mouse's wound.

Firmly press the transparent film dressing with the adhesive side down over the gauze. Quickly roll the mouse to wrap the dressing completely around the torso, ensuring it fits tightly without impeding respiration and all limbs are free for movement.

After placing the mouse in a recovery cage, monitor it until it is alert and moving around. Provide a heat source on the part of the cage for at least 15 minutes following recovery.