RESUMO
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate a method for the repair of tissue defect.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Allogenic acellular dermal matrixes (ADM) were implanted to full-thickness skin defects made on the dorsa of rats. Two weeks later, autologous suspended epidermal cells were transplanted on to the surface of vascularized ADM. Respectively, neoepidermis was macroscopically observed 2, 3, 5 weeks after grafting, and samples were taken to make routine paraffin sections for microscopical examination, and immunohistochemical staining for type IV collagen was also performed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The vascularized ADM could support proliferation and differentiation of epidermal cells, and also could promote the formation of dermal-epidermal junction. Suspended epidermal cells in an artificial culture system in vivo could develop into mature epidermis. The reconstructed skin not only looked like the normal one in appearance in which hair was removed, but also revealed a better function.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Full-thickness skin defect can be repaired by transplanting autologous epidermal cell suspension on to vascularized ADM.</p>