Main properties of fresh and three various kinds of preserved pigskin have been compared in our experiment. Results indicated that the rates of bacterial contamination of fresh pigskin sterilized by conventional method was 9.8%, while no positive culture had been found in preserved pig skins. Tissue adherence values of preserved pigskin grafts were not lower or were a little lower than that of fresh pigskin graft at Phase I, and were higher or were a little higher at Phase II (no statistical difference respectively). Water permeability of fresh pigskin was 37.84 +/- 9.37 gm/m2/h. Comparing with this value, permeability of radiated pigskin slightly decreased, permeability of glutaraldehyde treated pigskin (GAS) and chlorhexidine-alcohol refrigerated pigskin (ARS) significantly increased (P less than 0.001 respectively). Skin grafted on rats showed fresh, radiated heterografts infiltrated by host cells on 5th post-graft days, and sloughed or began to slough on 9th post-graft days; while GAS, ARS heterografts were rarely invaded by host cells, the general architectures of the grafts were still preserved up to 12th post-graft days.