The Lipid Composition of Epidermis and Dermis of Mice Undergoing Carcinogenesis by Methylcholanthrene
January 1961
in “
PubMed
”
TLDR Cholesterol and phospholipids increase in mouse skin during cancer development, with differences between male and female skin.
The study investigated the lipid composition of mouse epidermis and dermis during the hair growth cycle and after applying methylcholanthrene. Cholesterol and phospholipid levels were lowest in anagen and telogen epidermis, nearly doubled in hyperplastic epidermis, and highest in squamous-cell carcinomas. Cholesterol ester content and triglyceride fatty acid iodine numbers were similar across tissues, but total lipid and triglyceride percentages were lower in carcinomas. Male epidermis had higher cholesterol esters and cholesterol than females. The dermis showed no significant lipid composition changes across different epidermal stages. Epidermis had more phospholipids, cholesterol, and cholesterol esters but fewer neutral lipids and triglycerides compared to dermis.
