Efect of GH and melatonin on skin ageing in male rats

A. C. F. TRESGUERRES; J.L. RODRIGUEZ-PERALT; V. SALAZAR; C. CASTILLO; A. P. GARCÍA; C. ARIZNAVARRETA; J. A. F. TRESGUERRES

Sevilla

Congreso; XXXIII Congres of the Spanish Society of Physiological Sciences; 2005

Spanish Society of Physiological Sciences

It has been described that ageing induces changes in rat skin structure and function due to the ageing process itself but also to hormonal changes. GH has been described to diminish with age as well as melatonin, and both might play a very important role in skin structure and physiology. This study was designed to investigate the changes in skin structure and also the possible protective role of GH and melatonin in the content of Bcl2 and nucleosomes of cultured keratinocytes in 24 months old Wistar male rats and their 2 month old controls. After decapitation, two shaved skin patches were obtained from the back of the animal. One was fixed in 4% paraformaldehide for histological examination, and the other put on RPMI 1640 medium with serum, glutamine antibiotics and insulin. After 1 1/2 hours in culture with dispase and collagenase, cells were obtained by scraping the skin with a scalpel and cultured again for 24 hours more. Medium and cells were separately obtained and Bcl2 and nucleosomes were determined. Results are expressed as the mean  standard error of the mean. Experimental procedures were in accordance with National Rules in Spain (RD 223/1986). A decrease in epidermal thickness and an increase in the hypodermis (fat) was clearly observed in 24 months old skin samples as compared to young 2 months old animals. Both GH and melatonin treatments were able to restaure epidermal thickness and to reduce the fat content, with a higher effectivity observed for GH. In the keratinocyte culture, ageing increased nucleosomes and decreased Bcl2 as compared to young controls, whereas both treatments were able to nearly restaure young levels. In conclusion, GH and melatonin treatments were able to counteract some of the age related changes observed in skin structure and physiology.