The effects of tamoxifen on rat skin.
BACKGROUND
Tamoxifen (Tx) is used mostly in the treatment of breast and gynecological cancers. It is also widely used in the treatment of different dermatological disorders. However, its effects on skin have not been investigated previously.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of Tx administration on rat skin.


METHODS
Forty Spraque-Dawley female newborn rats were separated into two control groups and two experimental groups (n 10). One day after birth, the control groups of newborn rats were given 0.02 ml saline subcutaneously (s.c.) daily whereas experimental litters were treated with 100 microg Tx citrate in 0.02 ml saline s.c. daily for five days. The first control group and experimental group of rats were anesthetized at 21 days whereas the second control group and experimental group of rats were anesthetized on the 28th day. Histopathological assessments were made and compared with the control groups.


RESULTS
Abnormal hair follicles were observed in both experimental groups of rats. Epidermal atrophy together with increased dermal fibrosis was more prominent in the first experimental group. Dermal fibrosis and lymphohistiocytic inflammatory cell infiltration were found to be prominent around the hair follicles in the second experimental group.


CONCLUSIONS
Considerable harmful effects of Tx administration were observed on rat skin.
Inalöz
H S
HS
Department of Dermatology, University of Gaziantep, Faculty of Medicine, Turkey.
Deveci
E
E
Inalöz
S S
SS
Unal
B
B
Eralp
A
A
Can
I
I
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D023421:Models, Animal; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology*; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000633:toxicity*
D013629:Tamoxifen