Histochemical Evidence of Mucosubstances in the Metaplastic Epidermis and Hair Follicles Produced In Vitro in the Presence of Excess Vitamin A
February 1977
in “
The anatomical record
”
vitamin A epidermis hair follicles metaplastic changes keratinizing epidermis Alcian blue-positive bodies sulfated acidic mucosubstances stratified cuboidal epithelium PAS-positive mucosubstances glands polysaccharides glycogen epidermal basal layer retinol skin hair roots skin changes keratinized skin acidic mucosubstances cuboidal skin cells glycogen loss
TLDR Excess vitamin A changes skin and hair follicle development and affects polysaccharide distribution.
The study investigated the effects of excess vitamin A on the epidermis and hair follicles of 13-day old mouse embryos grown in organ culture. After 7 to 21 days, metaplastic changes were observed, including the transformation of hair follicles into glands and the appearance of different types of epithelium with mucosubstances. Histochemical tests revealed the presence of moderately sulfated acidic mucosubstances and neutral or non-sulfated acidic mucosubstances. Additionally, there was a rapid loss of glycogen in hair follicles and the epidermal basal layer. The study concluded that excess vitamin A significantly altered both the morphogenesis and the distribution and synthesis of polysaccharides in developing skin.
