Comparison of Autologous, Homologous, and Heterologous Normal Skin Grafts in the Hamster Cheek Pouch.

Abstract

1) Adult rabbit-skin heterografts were capable of surviving at least 6 weeks and proliferating in cheek pouches of both cortisonized and untreated Syrian hamsters. Orthotopic heterografts were uniformly non-viable beyond the seventh day. 2) No difference in survival was observed between autografts and homografts from the same non-inbred colony. 3) A marked lymphocytic reaction was evident in all rejected grafts and in surviving heterografts. This response was inhibited by cortisone and apparently did not prevent growth of these heterografts. 4) In general, cortisone inhibited growth of homografts and autografts and enhanced growth of heterografts. 5) The nature of the graft in one cheek pouch had no effect on the growth of the contralateral graft.