Barrier Function Assay

Abstract

This protocol serves to determine the integrity of the barrier function of (murine) epidermis. Defects in the barrier function lead to dehydration and infection in neonatal mice/humans. One possible way to assess epidermal barrier integrity is by a dye penetration assay as described hereunder. This assay should be done on unfixed, untreated tissues (e.g. formaldehyde- or glutaraldehyde-fixed) or on whole mouse embryos (E18.5). This protocol was adapted from Hardman (1998).