Morphological effects of sulfur mustard on a human skin equivalent

We have previously reported morphological correlates of sulfur mustard (HD) toxicity in several model systems: the human skin grafted athymic nude mouse; the hairless guinea pig; and human cells in culture. We are now describing HD effects in a human skin equivalent, TESTSKIN ® , and comparing these effects with those already reported for animal models and cells in culture. The human skin equivalent (HSE) is used here as an organotypic in vitro model system to bridge the knowledge gap between HD effects in monotypic cells in culture and animal in vivo effects. Additionally, HSE allowed study of HD toxicity which circumvented the concern of using human biopsied tissue.