Prevention of ultraviolet damage to the dermis of hairless mice by sunscreens

Journal Article · Mon Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1982 · J. Invest. Dermatol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/1523-1747.ep12506359· OSTI ID:5463009

Kligman, L H; Akin, F J; Kligman, A M

To assess the ability of sunscreens to protect connective tissue from actinic damage, hairless mice were irradiated with Westinghouse FS20 sunlamps thrice weekly for 30 weeks. Each exposure, consisting mainly of UV-B and the less energetic UV-A, was approximately 6 human minimal erythema doses under these lights. One group of animals received irradiation only. The other 2 groups were treated, prior to irradiation, with sunscreens of either low or high sun protection factors (SPF 2 and SPF 15, respectively). Skin biopsies were taken at 10-week intervals and were stained with various histochemical stains to reveal changes in the dermis. The unprotected, irradiated animals showed a great increase in the following: reticulin fibers, elastic fibers to the extent of elastosis, neutral and acid mucopolysaccharides and melanin production. The SPF 15 sunscreen completely prevented these changes. The SPF 2 sunscreen was less effective. These effects were substantiated by ultrastructural examination of the tissues by electron microscopy. A surprising histologic finding was the repair capability of the dermis in the post-irradiation period.

• Research Organization: Duhring Laboratories, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia
• OSTI ID: 5463009
• Journal Information: J. Invest. Dermatol.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Invest. Dermatol.; (United States) Vol. 78:2; ISSN JIDEA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560152* -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Animals
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMAL TISSUES
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL RECOVERY
BIOLOGICAL REPAIR
BODY
CONNECTIVE TISSUE
DRUGS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
ERYTHEMA
FAR ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
MAMMALS
MELANIN
MICE
MICROSCOPY
MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES
NEAR ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PIGMENTS
RADIATION PROTECTION
RADIATIONS
RADIOPROTECTIVE SUBSTANCES
RADIOSENSITIVITY EFFECTS
RECOVERY
REPAIR
RODENTS
SKIN
SYMPTOMS
TISSUES
ULTRASTRUCTURAL CHANGES
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
VERTEBRATES