Mechanical stretching stimulates growth of the basal layer and rete ridges in the epidermis

We have developed four experimental models of mechanical stimulation applied to the back skin using tissue expansion (TE) procedure performed on minipigs. The technique is used by plastic surgeons for decades, to amend the congenital or accidental skin defects, though underlying changes in epidermis are not well understood. We found that the initial stretching increased proliferation of basal keratinocytes leading to elongation of the basal...