Porcine ear skin: an in vitro model for human skin.
OBJECTIVE
Porcine ear skin is used in studies of percutaneous penetration as a substitute for human skin. The structure of this tissue, including hair follicles, was studied qualitatively and quantitatively in comparison with human skin.


METHODS
Sections of shock-frozen biopsies, biopsies embedded in paraffin and cyanoacrylate skin surface biopsies were investigated using microscopy. The thickness of the different skin layers and the follicular characteristics were determined.


RESULTS
The thickness of the stratum corneum was 17-28 microm, whereas the viable epidermis was 60-85 microm thick. On 1 cm(2), 11-25 hairs were detected, showing a diameter of 58-97 microm and a maximal extension depth of 0.96-1.38 mm into the skin. The orifices of the porcine infundibula showed a diameter of approximately 200 microm.


CONCLUSIONS
The results obtained are similar to those of human skin, indicating the suitability of this porcine tissue as a model for human skin.
Jacobi
Ute
U
Department of Dermatology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany. ute.jacobi@charite.de
Kaiser
Marco
M
Toll
Rani
R
Mangelsdorf
Susanne
S
Audring
Heike
H
Otberg
Nina
N
Sterry
Wolfram
W
Lademann
Juergen
J
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D023421:Models, Animal; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology*; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena; D013045:Species Specificity; D013499:Surface Properties; D013552:Swine