Abstract: Direct-tissue culturing was used to isolate and culture rat epidermal stem cells. Then, observe the appearance of the culturing cells, and the expression of CK15, P63 and α6-integrin in ESCs were detected by immunohistochemistry staining. By the way, the ESCs marked by α6-integrin were detected by flow cytometry (FCM). Meanwhile, the growth curve of epidermal stem cells was also detected. We could isolate, purify and culture rat epidermal stem cells successfully by direct-tissue culturing method and these cells grew well. Immuno-histochemistry staining showed that CK15, P63 and α6-integrin were strongly expressed in the cultured epidermal stem cells. According to the flow cytometry, the probability of sticky cells marked by α6-integrin was 80%, while the probability of unsticky cells marked by α6-integrin was only 2%.

Key words: rat; epidermal stem cells; isolation; identification