Morphological changes in the skin of guinea pigs in local exposure to ultraviolet irradiation

Abstract

The study identifi ed that the development of UV erythema (1 MED) in guinea pigs was characterized by infl ammatory and degenerative changes in the skin, reaching the highest degree of severity on the 3rd day after the exposure. The detected injuries were characterized by morphological changes in the dermo-epidermal junction, leukocyte infi ltration in the epidermis and dermis, destruction of collagen and elastic fi bers. The development of apoptotic keratinocytes, i.e. sunburn cells, was one of the most specifi c morphological alterations occurring in the skin of guinea pigs when exposed to ultraviolet irradiation. Proliferative, hyperplastic and degenerative changes, as well as dystrophic ones persisted in the skin within the post-erythema period (the 8th day). Morphometric studies confi rmed visual histological changes in the skin.