title: Photodamage in feline skin: clinical and histomorphometric analysis.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate clinical and histomorphometric features of cat skin under long-term solar exposure. Ear skin of 34 Domestic Shorthair cats that were chronically exposed to sun was classified as follows: group 0, normal (n = 13); group 1, initial stage of photodamage (PD) (n = 10); group 2, advanced stage of PD (n = 11). Histologic sections were examined independently by 2 pathologists, and epidermal thickness, adnexal unit area, and dermal cellularity were assessed by morphometry. A positive correlation was obtained between age, degree of edema and sclerosis in the upper dermis, telangiectases, squamatization of basal keratinocytes, and epidermis thickness and the degree of PD. The area occupied by adnexal structures in the dermis diminished with increased PD. Dermal sclerosis and edema best separated the 3 groups. The results indicated a high level of skin hypersensitivity to sun rays in cats. The findings may be useful for clinical testing and in general veterinary pathology and dermatology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Veterinary Division, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: E M P
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Caraça
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Adam
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Metze
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Cintra
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001706:Biopsy; D002415:Cats; D004423:Ear / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D005260:Female; D007642:Keratosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013472:Sunlight / Q000009:adverse effects*