title: Pharmacological studies on cutaneous inflammation induced by ultraviolet irradiation (1): quantification of erythema by reflectance colorimetry and correlation with cutaneous blood flow.
abstract: This study was conducted to quantify the intensity of ultraviolet (UV) erythema in guinea pigs, a method for evaluating anti-inflammatory drugs, and to clarify any correlation of erythema with cutaneous blood flow. Skin color and cutaneous blood flow in non-administered and indomethacin-administered animals were measured by a colorimeter and a laser Doppler flowmeter over time after UV-irradiation treatment. Skin color was indicated by a XYZ colorimetric system and L*a*b* color space. In either colorimetric system, the values of two indices, x and y or a* and b*, increased along with the intensification of erythema. The increase in the chroma (C*) value calculated from a* and b* was UV-dose-dependent. This value was significantly suppressed by indomethacin 0.5-4 hr after irradiation, and it was found to be a clear and sensitive index for evaluating the suppressive effect of drugs. Cutaneous blood flow also increased with UV irradiation. Indomethacin significantly suppressed this increase 2-3 hr after UV irradiation. The changes of cutaneous blood flow correlated with those of C*. These results suggested C* was a suitable parameter to quantify UV erythema, and the change of skin color in UV erythema reflected the change of cutaneous blood flow.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Gifu University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nose
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsurumi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003124:Colorimetry; D004890:Erythema / Q000473:pathology*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007249:Inflammation; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; D008297:Male; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000187:drug effects; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D007213:Indomethacin