EFFECT OF LASER RADIATION ON MAMMALIAN EPIDERMAL MELANOCYTE

[摘要] The effect of laser radiation on the activity of epidermal melanocytes was studied in the skin of the anterior abdominal wall of pure black and pure red male guinea pigs. The skin was processed using the dopa [dihydroxy phenyl alanine] and tyrosine reactions, and both skin sheets and vertical sections were examined. Macroscopically a brown oval area of discoloration occurred at the site of impact. The degree of skin damage was greater in the black animals at all levels of energy output. Microscopically the skin specimens removed 1 and 72 hr. after irradiation showed varying degrees of tissue necrosis which was more severe in the black animals. At the center of the impact area only a few distorted melanocytes were observed. At the periphery a mixture of normal and distorted melanocytes was seen. Beyond the impact area the morphology of all melanocytes was normal. The specimens removed 9 and 21 days after irradiation showed different stages in the process of healing. It was concluded that the type of laser radiation used in this study primarily produced tissue necrosis, and cells containing large amounts of dark pigment were particularly susceptible. With the energy levels of laser used in this experiment it was not possible to obtain a selective effect on epidermal melanocytes.