Introduction: Autologous cell transplantations are gaining significant importance in the field of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. This model describes a technique for functional visualisation of isogenic cells after transplantation. Methods: After subcutaneous Silastic implantation in 2 animals for a time period of 5 days, isogenic rat fibroblasts were isolated and cultured for 5 cell passages. At MOI 100, cells were transfected with lac-Z gene using a specially constructed adenoviral vector to express ß-galctosidase (AdF.Z(pK7). Each 5 x 106 cells/animal were transplanted in a total of 10 isogenic animals (Group I). The in vivo target was the panniculus carnosus of a 8 x 2 cm Mc Farlane flap, raised for cell transplantation. Another 10 animals received non-modified cells in the same model (Group II). One week later, all animals were sacrified, the flaps were clinically evaluated and stained for X-galactosidase and HE after formaline-fixation. Results: In all animals of Group I transplanted fibroblasts initiated massive production of ß-galactosidase, shown as intensive blue-staining by X-gal. In Group II transplanted cells could not be differentiated from autochthonous fibroblasts. HE-staining showed no increase of polymorphonuclear cells in both groups. Clinical evaluation of percentual flap survival revealed no statistically different results. Conclusion: Adenoviral gene transfer encoding AdF.Z(pK7) allows in vivo detection of isogenic functional rat fibroblasts after transplantation. According to this model, other adenoviral vectors can be utilized to induce cell-mediated therapeutic angiogenesis by appropriate genes.