Effect of Protein Malnutrition on the Skin Epidermis of Hairless Mice

• Published in: Journal of Veterinary Medical Science Vol. 73; no. 6; pp. 831 - 835
• Main Authors: SUGIYAMA, Akihiko, FUJITA, Yuka, KOBAYASHI, Toshihiro, RYU, Mizuyuki, SUZUKI, Yasushi, MASUDA, Aino, OCHI, Tairin, TAKEUCHI, Takashi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan JAPANESE SOCIETY OF VETERINARY SCIENCE 01-06-2011; Japan Science and Technology Agency
• Subjects: advanced oxidation protein product; Animals; Body Weight - physiology; Cell Growth Processes - physiology; dityrosine; Epidermal Cells; Epidermis - metabolism; Epidermis - pathology; Immunohistochemistry; Male; Mice; Mice, Hairless; protein malnutrition; Protein-Energy Malnutrition - blood; Protein-Energy Malnutrition - metabolism; Protein-Energy Malnutrition - pathology; Serum Albumin - analysis; skin epidermis; Tyrosine - analogs & derivatives; Tyrosine - blood; Water Loss, Insensible - physiology
• ISSN: 0916-7250; 1347-7439
• DOI: 10.1292/jvms.10-0399

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of protein malnutrition on the skin epidermis of mice. A low protein diet induced thinning of the skin epidermis, a decrease of cell proliferative activity in epidermal cells and a decrease of stratum corneum hydration. Dityrosine was immunostained in the cytoplasm of epidermal cells in the low protein diet group. Plasma advanced oxidation protein product (AOPP) levels were significantly more increased in the low protein diet group than in the control diet group. These results suggest that protein malnutrition adversely affects the structure and water barrier and reservoir functions of the skin epidermis, and these pathological changes are associated with the expressions of protein oxidation markers, dityrosine and AOPP.