title: A device for irradiating guinea-pig skin with ultraviolet light.
abstract: Animal methodology for investigating photosensitization is of interest because of the potential of some photodynamic chemicals to produce adverse skin reactions. A system has been developed that provides procedural flexibility and the ability to standardize individual guinea-pig exposures to ultraviolet light (UVA and UVB). It consists of a non-stressful restraining method that also protects the animals' eyes from the harmful effects of UV light while allowing reproducible exposure of the backs of the guinea-pigs. The procedure is described in detail and the qualitative and quantitative aspects of the system are presented. In addition, some quantitative aspects of the phototoxic variation in response to 8-methoxypsoralen are investigated.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004890:Erythema / Q000209:etiology; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D008730:Methoxsalen / Q000633:toxicity; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000295:instrumentation*
chemical_list: D008730:Methoxsalen