ISSN:
1432-0703
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Energy, Environment Protection, Nuclear Power Engineering
,
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract This study was initiated because of the recent toxic-oil syndrome outbreak in Spain. The feeding of rats with adulterated rapeseed oil involved in a toxic syndrome increases the thermal stability of the skin from these animals. The temperature of shrinkage increases from 64±0.5°C up to 67±0.1°C with the treatment. Electronmicroscopic studies reveal the existence of thick bundles of collagen in the skin of the treated rats, in agreement with the scleroderma-like skin changes in patients affected by the toxic syndrome. Molecular characterization of the collagen isolated from the skin of the treated animals does not show any variation in terms of amino acid composition, carbohydrate content, hydroxylation degree and SLS-crystallites formation. However, the α-chain/β-component ratio increases for the collagen from the treated rats. This observation is consistent with the observed increase in the yield of collagen isolated through acid extraction. The results are interpreted in terms of increased synthesis of collagen, creating a fibrotic stage, which does not allow a normal cross-linking of the protein. Oleoylanilide and diphenyl-hexatriene decrease the temperature of shrinkage of the skin, thus indicating that the anilides are not directly involved in the skin pathology.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01055523
