Epidermal change can alter mechanical properties of hairless mouse skin topically treated with 1α, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3

Abstract

Wrinkle formation caused by photoaging clearly involves changes of extracellular matrix components and mechanical properties of the skin. Recently, it was reported that the topical application of 1α, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3 to hairless mouse skin induced wrinkling. Here we have evaluated the effect of topical application of 1α, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3, which causes skin wrinkling, on the mechanical properties of the hairless mouse (HR/ICR) skin, using a commercially available non-invasive in vivo instrument. The elasticity element of the skin was unchanged, but the viscosity element significantly increased. Histologically, the epidermis became remarkably thick, but no conspicuous changes were observed in the dermis. Changes in the mechanical properties of the skin after 1α, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3 treatment take place through epidermal physical variation, especially changes of viscosity elements. It is suggested that the visco-elastic properties of the epidermis are also attributable to the morphology as well as the mechanical properties of the skin.