BIOCHEMICAL AND HISTOCHEMICAL STUDIES ON WHITE, BROWN AND BLACK SKIN REGIONS OF THE GUINEA PIG

Abstract

Biochemical and histochemical studies were conducted on three different skin regions-black, brown and white-of the guinea pig, with special reference to melanogenesis. Ascorbic acid, ascorbic acid free radical forming special peroxidase and net bound ascorbic acid were found to be more in the brown skin followed by the black and white skins respectively. The brown skin region was also rich in succinic dehydrogenase, ascorbigen and tyrosine than the white and black skin regions. The capacity to utilize ascorbic acid was high in the black skin region, whereas, the white skin showed the highest concentration of proteins.The histochemical study revealed a greater activity of succinic dehydrogenase, ascorbic acid free radical forming special peroxidase and ascorbic acid in the actively growing melanin synthesizing hair follicles, whereas, the developing hair follicles in the white region stained more intensely for proteins.