Quantification of total and perfused blood vessels in murine skin autografts using a fluorescent double-labeling technique.

Background: Two theories exist regarding the revascularization of skin autografts: direct anastomosis between graft vessels and bed vessels, and ingrowth of bed vessels (angiogenesis) into the graft. This study characterizes revascularization, spatially and chronologically, in a murine skin autograft model using a double-labeling technique.

Methods: Full-thickness (1 cm2) skin grafts were performed on adult male C57/Bl6 mice.