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Skin can be considered as a two-compartment tissue consisting of an overlying epidermis and an underlying dermis separated by a selectively permeable basement membrane. Studies on the communication between these skin compartments have shown that the keratinocyte, which is the constitutive cell of the epidermis appears susceptible to modulation by dermally derived influences. In tissue recombinant experiments, Billingham and Silvers (1967) found that regional epidermal histomorphology in guinea pigs (e.g. sole versus ear) was determined by the origin of the dermal component. Melbye and Karasek (1973) and Mackenzie and Fusenig (1983) further found that facilitation of epidermal proliferation may depend on diffusable, dermally-derived factors.

The development of a technique for the preparation of continuous helical strips of smooth muscle from small arterioles showed that cutaneous vascular smooth muscles could be studied directly and that their responses to natural and pharmacological compounds are consistent (Bohr et al, 1961). The pharmacological responses are dependent on the species and organs selected for vessel study. The size of the vessel and even the region of the organ are important (Bohr, 1965). Such studies have provided the basis for a receptor theory of small coronary vessel response to catecholamine (Bohr, 1967). Similar studies of human cutaneous vessels have indicated the presence of alpha-receptors and are important in understanding the physiology and pathology of the skin (Winkelmann et al, 1970). Our purpose is to summarize the data obtained by this method and to show the effect of prostaglandins on isolated human cutaneous vascular strips.