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A study of the effect of orchidectomy on the melanocytes and melanin in the skin of the guinea-pig

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Summary

  1. 1.

    The effect of orchidectomy on the melanocytes and melanin in the skin of the ear, anterior abdominal wall, areola and sole of foot has been studied in pure black and pure red guinea-pigs using carefully controlled histochemical experiments. The results were assessed by comparing adjacent skin areas removed before and after orchidectomy from each region in the same animal. In the case of the areola the right one was compared with the left.

  2. 2.

    In animals weighing 350–390 grammes orchidectomy was found to have no significant effect in the skin of the ear and abdomen but in the areola and sole melanogenesis was slightly stimulated.

  3. 3.

    In mature animals weighing 520–912 grammes melanogenesis was stimulated in all the regions.

  4. 4.

    Control experiments showed that (a) initially in the intact animal the melanocytes and melanin are practically identical in the two skin areas of each region which are compared in the orchidectomy experiment (b) the operative procedure associated with the initial skin biopsy stimulated melanogenesis in the sole of foot and to a slight extent in the anterior abdominal wall. These findings were taken into consideration when the reults of the orchidectomy experiments were assessed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, King's College, University of London, England

    R. S. Snell & P. G. Bischitz

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  1. R. S. Snell
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  2. P. G. Bischitz
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We greatfully acknowledge financial assistance from the Medical Research Council for this work.

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Snell, R.S., Bischitz, P.G. A study of the effect of orchidectomy on the melanocytes and melanin in the skin of the guinea-pig. Zeitschrift für Zellforschung 50, 825–834 (1959). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00342369

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00342369

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