To compare the effects of two different cryoprotectants on human desmoglein 1 (Dsg 1), and to provide experimental basis for the optimization of cryoprotectant. Methods Five donated thin spl it-thickness skin grafts were used, and the experiment was conducted within 4 hours after skin grafts harvest. The skin grafts were divided into 3 groups: group A (n=2) in which skin grafts were immersed in 0.5 mol/L trehalose/DMSO; group B (n=2) in which skin grafts were immersed in DMSO/propanediol; group C (n=1) in which fresh skin graft received no further treatment. Groups A and Bwere stored in — 196℃ l iquid nitrogen for 7 and 21 days, respectively, and then underwent experiment. mmunohistochemistry staining observation was performed on each group, RT-PCR method was used to detect the expression of Dsg 1 in skin. Results The immunohistochemistry staining showed that the protein in groups A and B was stained brown-yellow and distributed evenly 7 days after cryopreservation; the expression signal of epidermal basal cell was similar to that of group C; absorbance (A) value of groups A, B and C was 0.285 ± 0.006, 0.284 ± 0.004 and 0.287 ± 0.008, respectively, suggesting there was no significant difference between groups A and B and group C (P gt; 0.05). At 21 days after cryopreservation, the expression of positive cells in group B decreased; no obvious decrease was observed in group A, A value of groups A and B was 0.282 ± 0.004 and 0.275 ± 0.005, respectively, indicating there was a significant difference between group B and groups A and C (P lt; 0.05). RT-PCR detection showed that A value of groups A and B at 7 days after cryopreservation was 0.810 ± 0.012 and 0.803 ± 0.008, respectively; A value of groups A and B at 21 days after cryopreservation was 0.806 ± 0.008 and 0.782 ± 0.013, respectively; and the A value of group C was 0.814 ± 0.012, indicating there was significant difference between group B and groups A and C at 21 days after ryopreservation (P lt; 0.05), and no significant differences among groups were noted at other time points (P gt; 0.05).Conclusion Trehalose/DMSO is better than traditional cryoprotectant DMSO/propanediol in protecting Dsg 1 of human skin.