Ultrastructural characteristics of cells in human wound collected by Cellstic device.

The differentiating human wound cells and intercellular matrix was studied by electron microscopy. The cells were collected with a special wound drain containing a piece of cellulose sponge. Although fibroblastic cells could be detected as early as 20 hr after operation, the main cell population consisted of inflammatory cells. The fibroblastic cells were classified into three types according to the stage of ultrastructural differentiation. Some cells of different types were in close contact by membrane apposition to each other and to the sponge material. However, no specialized junctions were seen. Organized collagen fibers were not seen during the observation period despite the well developed organelles for protein synthesis in the fibroblastic cells. The close contacts of normal cells with the sponge pore walls indicated good compatibility with human tissue and safe use for clinical experiments in routine operations.