Studies on a Skin Calcifying System

The study investigated experimentally induced calcification in rat skin, termed "topical calciphylaxis," focusing on the rapid appearance of mineral deposits following mild injury, such as epilation or light squeezing. This process led to sparse mineralization, which could become extensive with prior hypercalcemic treatment. Initial mineralization was localized to hair follicles, with hydroxyapatite crystallites forming within the inner root sheath cells and hair cortex, as observed through electron microscopy. Despite mineralization, the follicles remained functional without obvious degeneration. The study also noted that this low-level calcification was not limited to a specific species, as it occurred in rachitic rats, which typically do not exhibit a full calciphylactic response. The research discussed the implications of keratin mineralization and its relevance to existing theories on calcification mechanisms.