SKIN TRANSPLANTATION IN THE MOUSE AND ITS EFFECT ON PIGMENTATION

¹ Institute of Animal Genetics, University of Edinburgh

1. A description is given of several methods of skin grafting used in Autotransplantation, Syngenesiotransplantation, and Homoiotransplantation in the mouse.

2. Their adaptation for, and special application in, minimising the incompatibility which always exists in some degree between the body fluids of host and donor, is illustrated. A new technique, devised to prevent undue connective tissue proliferation below the graft, is described in detail.

3. The Schültz reaction is recorded for the skin of self-coloured and piebald mice, and its importance indicated.

4. Various observations on the effects of grafting, in so far as the growth of hair in both host and donor is concerned, are given.

5. In autotransplantation it is shown that the grafted skin invariably retains its individuality, and in other cases it was not possible to define the extent to which colour changes in the graft were due to transplantation injuries or to the influence of the new environments.

6. Since pigment formation is dependent on the interaction of the constituents of the pigmentary system, it is suggested that a study of prevalent conditions in the ftus during the differentiation of pigment-producing cells would throw some light on those factors controlling the production of the enzyme constituents of the pigmentary system.

The writer has pleasure in taking this opportunity of expressing to Professor Crew her thanks for his interest in this research and for the hospitality of his department. She is also indebted to Mr Wm. C. Miller for much helpful advice and criticism.