We describe a stereology method to obtain reliable estimates of the total number of proliferative and migratory epithelial cells after wounding. Using pulse and chase experiments with halogenated thymidine analogs such as iododeoxyuridine (IdU) and chlorodeoxyuridine (CldU), it is possible to track epithelial populations with heterogeneous proliferative characteristics through skin compartments. The stereological and tissue processing methods described here apply widely to address important questions of skin stem-cell biology.
Keywords: Bromodeoxyuridine; Bulge; Chlorodeoxyuridine; Confocal microscopy; Epidermis; Hair follicles; Halogenated thymidine analogs; Iododeoxyuridine; Keratinocytes; Nucleoside; Random sampling; Stem cells; Stereology; Wound.