The separation of basal and differentiating cells from human epidermis for DNA cytofluorometry.

A method for the selective separation of human epidermal cells, in which the Feulgen-stainable material suffers minimal damage, was investigated. The principal stage involves alpha-chymotrypsin treatment of skin specimens as well as shaking in an isotonic solution. With respect to DNA distribution pattern, there was good agreement between that of epidermal cells separated with the microdissection-ultrasonic irradiation method, reported previously by us, and those separated by the present method.