A simplified testing system to evaluate performance after transplantation of human skin preserved in glycerol or in liquid nitrogen.

We have designed and tested a mouse recipient model for evaluation and direct comparison of skin-preservation procedures. Glycerolized skin was compared with cryopreserved and fresh cadaveric skin. Human skin samples were grafted on Balb/c mice, and primary take was evaluated after 4 and 7 days. The results demonstrate that although all grafted specimens were initially accepted as indicated by gross observations, histologic differences were evident and significant. Cryopreserved skin grafts performed better than did glycerolized skin even after a transplantation period as short as 4 days; this difference became even more pronounced after 7 days. Both methods of preservation provided a less successful product than did fresh viable cadaveric skin. However, for very short periods of grafting the performance of glycerolized skin might be considered adequate (79% compared with cryopreserved). Because the present study used an immunocompetent xenogeneic model, it is possible that the period of adequate allogeneic grafting will be prolonged in patients who are immunosuppressed. The present model is simple to use, requires a minimum of maintenance and expertise, and has inherent clinical relevance, because it is concerned primarily with the clinical performance of the skin. Thus it may be used as a quality control test for banked skin.