ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the survival profile of the intradermally injected mouse autologous skin fibroblasts and the changes of the collagen fibers by using green fluorescent protein labeling and two-photon fluorescence microscopy. Methods The cultured cells were transfected by EGFP lentivirus, and then the cells were injected into the corresponding mouse skin. Biopsy was taken from the animals after 1 and 2 months. The specimens made serial frozen sections, the survival profile of the injected cells and the changes of the collagen fibers were observed by two-photon fluorescence microscopy. The collagenic area and dermal thickness were measured with image analysis software, and statistical analysis was also carried out. Results Two-photon fluorescence microscopy showed clear images of the injected cells and collagen fibers. Both the area of collagen fibers and the dermal thickness were significantly increased in injected cells after 2 months (P<0.05), however, there were no difference between injected cells and control after 1 mouth (P>0.05). Conclusions Autologous cultured fibroblasts could survive in a long time after transplantating into the skin, and collagen could be newly produced, the depth of dermis increases, which provides a possibility to treat mini-defects of the tissue.