To understand the reason of hyperpigmentation following full-thickness skin autograft, 54 guinea pigs were selected as skin autograft models. The changes of density of epidermal keratinocyte (KC) and the amount and distribution of melanin in the epidermal KC were observed by histological, histochemical and autoradiographic techniques. The results showed: (1) The histological changes of KC were in fact a wound-repair process; (2) The increased melanin in KC coordinated with "multi-overlapping screen" effect, a result of multiple layers of "supranuclear cap", was the direct cause of hyperpigmentation of the graft and (3) The hydrolytic disturbance of melanin in KC and the longer life span of the KC were probably the important reasons for the increase of melanin in the epidermis.
Citation： Li Haiyang,Zhao Wenqing,Zheng Xinmin.. HISTOLOGICAL CHANGE OF KERATINOCYTE IN FULL THICKNESS SKIN AUTOGRAFT AND ITS EFFECT ON HYPERPIGMENTATION OF THE GRAFT. Chinese Journal of Reparative and Reconstructive Surgery, 1997, 11(2): 72-75. doi: Copy