Using a pig explant culture system, the effects of retinoids on pig epidermal cells were studied. Ro 10‐9359 slightly stimulated epidermal outgrowth, but this effect was not significant. Ro 10‐1670 (a metabolite of Ro 10‐9359) significantly stimulated epidermal outgrowth. Cytochalasin B and colchicine markedly inhibited the stimulatory effect of Ro 10‐1670, but hydroxyurea or cycloheximide did not completely block this stimulatory effect. During a migratory period, cytochalasin B completely blocked it. Neither Ro 10‐1670 nor Ro 10‐9359 effected a change in mitotic index. Histological studies revealed that Ro 10‐1670‐treated epidermal cells did not form any keratin layers. These results suggest that Ro 10‐1670 stimulated outgrowth, particularly migratory outgrowth, of epidermal cells, resulting in reduced keratin formation.