Epidermal cell viability in rat skin preserved at 4 degrees C.

To determine the longest storage period for the clinical application of epidermal cells and a better method of preservation at 4 degrees C, we stored skin in various fluids and assessed the changes in epidermal cell viability. The time course of changes in the viability of epidermal cells from skin in various preservation fluids was similar to the results obtained with whole skin in previous studies. The best preservation fluid was found to be RPMI 1640 medium, and the best method of preservation was immersion in RPMI 1640 at 4 degrees C with a medium change every 3 days.