The effect of shedding on skin homografts in the garter snake,thamnophis sirtalis

All skin homografts shed a layer of keratin or an outer epidermal generation when shedding appeared in the recipient. Skin homografts did not express the timing of the shedding cycle found in the donor animal. It was concluded that the timing of shedding is determined by the recipient but not by the skin. The response of skin homografts was not affected by age, sex or the stage between sheddings when grafts were taken from donors. A review of mammalian work shows that skin homografts in the rat show the timing of the hair growth cycle found in the donor although eventually these homografts also become synchronized with the recipient. Less complex mechanisms seem to be involved in the shedding cycle in garter snakes than in the hair-growth cycle which evolved in mammals.