Presented here is a protocol for the separation of epidermis from dermis to evaluate inflammatory mediator production. Following inflammation, rat hind paw epidermis is separated from the dermis by thermolysin at 4 °C. The epidermis is then used for mRNA analysis by RT-PCR and protein evaluation by western blot and immunohistochemistry.
Gujar, V., Anderson, M. B., Miller, K. E., Pande, R. D., Nawani, P., Das, S. Separation of Rat Epidermis and Dermis with Thermolysin to Detect Site-Specific Inflammatory mRNA and Protein. J. Vis. Exp. (175), e59708, doi:10.3791/59708 (2021).