CONFOCAL LASER-SCANNING MICROSCOPY OF PORCINE SKIN - IMPLICATIONS FORHUMAN WOUND-HEALING STUDIES

The structure of porcine skin as examined by light microscopy is revie wed and its similarities to and differences from human skin are highli ghted. Special imaging techniques and staining procedures are describe d and their use in gathering morphological information in porcine skin is discussed. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) was employed to examine the structure of porcine skin and the findings are presente d as an adjunct to the information already available in the literature . It is concluded that CLSM provides valuable additional morphological information to material examined by conventional microscopy and is us eful for wound healing studies in the porcine model.