Mitotic Activity in the Epidermis of the Rabbit Stimulated with Local Applications of Testosterone Propionate

The study applied testosterone propionate topically to the ears of four adult rabbits and found that it significantly increased the thickness of the epidermis and stimulated mitotic activity, especially in the basal cells and the lower layers of the stratum spinosum. The treatment also led to the formation of long epidermal papillae and cords, some with sebaceous differentiation, and increased dermal vascularity. The results indicate that the adult epidermis can undergo sebaceous differentiation and that androgenic stimulation can enhance the metabolic activities of the skin and its appendages. The document also includes detailed observations of the stages of mitosis in the treated epidermis, highlighting the increased mitotic activity and the orientation of mitotic axes in response to androgen stimulation.