Histological Investigation on the Structural Aspects of Adult Brown Bears' Skin

The study investigated the skin structure of 9 European Brown Bears from the Wildlife Research Centre in Bursa. Skin samples were taken from various body parts and analyzed using histological techniques. The skin was found to consist of two main layers: the epidermis and dermis. A network of reticular fibers was particularly noted at the epidermis-dermis border in the neck area. The dermis contained a dense network of collagen fibers, with elastic and reticular fibers interspersed. Around hair follicles, sweat glands, sebaceous glands, vessels, and nerve fibers, dense elastic and reticular fibers were observed. Sebaceous glands consisted of only a few cells, and lipid cells were present in the stratum reticulare of the dermis and around hair follicles, surrounded by numerous nerve fibers. The skin was thinnest on the ventral abdomen and thickest on the back.