Objective     To investigate the distribution

isolation and culture of the epidermal stem cells from rats.      Methods     Immnohistochemical methods were used to confirm the location of the epidermal stem cells. The skin of neonatal rats were dissociated into single cells by dispaseⅡ and trypsin solution，the rapidly adherent cells to collgenⅣ were cultured with KSFM，and those no rapidly adherent cells were regarded as control. Immunohistology and flow cytometry were conducted to identify the epidermal stem cells.      Results     α 6-integrin and K15 were expressed in the basal layer cells and hair follicle bulge cells

while the CD71 was negative negatively expressed. CD34 were expressed in the hair follicle bulge cells while not in the basal layer cells. The epidermal stem cells isolated by collgenⅣ had higher colony forming efficiency. Immunocytochemical staining showed that α 6-integrin and K15 were strongly expressed in the cultured epidermal stem cells. Flow cytometry indicated that 84％ cultured epidermal stem cells were expressed α 6-integrin.      Conclusion     The epidermal stem cells of rats are located at the basal layer of epidermis and the hair follicle bulge.