Hair cycle-dependent production of ACTH in mouse skin.
We investigated the functional determinants of the cutaneous expression of elements of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. In the present work, the presence of adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) peptide in skin of C57/BL6 mouse was demonstrated by reversed-phase HPLC analysis combined with specific radioimmunoassay. ACTH concentration that was low in telogen, increased during anagen in two steps: a rapid phase in anagen I, and a slower rise that reached its peak in anagen VI. Immunofluorescence localized the ACTH antigen to the basal layer of epidermis, outer root sheath of hair follicle and subcutaneous muscle of anagen VI skin. At physiological plasma concentration (10-9 M), ACTH selectively stimulated DNA synthesis in dermis, while pharmacological doses (10-7-10-6 M) inhibited DNA synthesis in both dermis and epidermis. In conclusion, we suggest that local production of ACTH may represent a regulatory element in the control of skin functions including hair growth.
Slominski
A
A
Department of Pathology, Loyola University Medical Center, 2160 South First Avenue, Maywood, IL 60153, USA. aslomin@wpo.it.luc.edu
Botchkareva
N V
NV
Botchkarev
V A
VA
Chakraborty
A
A
Luger
T
T
Uenalan
M
M
Paus
R
R
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001415:Back; D002455:Cell Division; D020405:Dermis / Q000166:cytology; D000078404:Epidermal Cells; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development*; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008543:Melanins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
D008543:Melanins; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone