Long-Term Preservation of Rat Skin Tissue by Epigallocatechin-3-O-Gallate

The study investigated the effects of Epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG), a major component of green tea, on the preservation of rat skin tissue for grafting. Skin samples from GFP rats were treated with or without EGCG and cryopreserved at -196 degrees C. After 2, 8, and 24 weeks, the tissues were transplanted onto nude mice, and their metabolic activity was assessed through glucose consumption. Histological analysis of the grafts two weeks post-transplantation showed that those treated with EGCG maintained higher integrity in the epidermal layer and dermal matrix, despite overall degeneration. The study concluded that EGCG could enhance the viability and extend the storage time of skin grafts up to 7 weeks at 4 degrees C, indicating its potential clinical usefulness for skin preservation. However, the exact mechanism of EGCG's protective effect was not determined.