Effect Of Lipid Solvents On Protein, Dna, And Collagen Synthesis In Human Skin: An Electron Microscopic Autoradiographic Study

Abstract

The effect of acetone and kerosene on the synthesis of protein, DNA, and collagen was studied by electron microscopic autoradiography using [3H]leucine, [3H]thymidine, and [3H]proline as tracers in human skin. Quantitative analyses following concomitant administration of tritiated leucine and acetone or kerosene demonstrated, at 90 min, a marked decrease in silver grains as compared to control or nonexposed areas. Incorporation of tritiated thymidine is moderately stimulated only by acetone, whereas radioactive proline distribution is not significantly affected. Electron microscopic autoradiograms revealed that tritiated leucine is distributed over all epidermal cells, mostly in the stratum spinosum of control epidermis; a marked decrease of silver grains from [3H]leucine followed both lipid solvent exposures. The autoradiographic reaction is specifically located over cytoplasmic organelles, such as polysomes, endoplasmic reticulum, and especially tonofilaments. Tritiated thymidine resulted in silver grains mostly over nuclear chromatin and these were moderatly increased after acetone application, whereas the incorporation of radioactive proline in the fibroblasts and collagen fibrils were not significantly influenced. These investigations indicate a dissociated effect of lipid solvents on protein, DNA, and collagen synthesis in human skin.