Xenotransplantation of a Full-Layer Human Skin Strip as a Model for Studying Skin Regeneration and the Hair Follicle Cycle

Xenotransplantation of skin transplants from humans to animals with immunodeficiency is one of the most successful models for studying human tissues in normal and pathological conditions. The main limitation of this approach is the size of the graft; the lower part of the dermis and subcutaneous fat is missing in skin explants with an area of more than 10 × 10 mm, and full-layer xenografts rarely exceed the size of 3 × 3 mm. This study shows that transplantation of 15 × 5 mm full-layer strips ensures successful integration and preservation of all skin structures: the epidermis, dermal part, blood vessels, hair follicles, and sebaceous and sweat glands. Hair follicles in the grafts reproduce the cycle of physiological regeneration. This model is suitable for studying the regeneration of hair follicles, glands, interfollicular epidermis, and other skin structures.