title: Immunohistochemical investigation of galectin-3 in the skin of mice applied with Origanum hypericifolium essential oil and irradiated with ultraviolet B.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To demonstrate galectin-3-immunoreactivity in the undiluted essential oil of Origanum hypericifolium when applied to the ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiated skin of mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Female BALB/c mice were allocated to 4 groups, each comprising 6 mice (Group 1: control; Group 2: UVB irradiated control; Group 3: undiluted O. hypericifolium essential oil applied; Group 4: undiluted O. hypericifolium essential oil applied before UVB irradiation). One week prior to UVB irradiation, the undiluted O. hypericifolium essential oil was applied to, the shaved dorsal skin of mice 3 times a week. Subsequently, the mice were irradiated 3 times per week with UVB (week 1: 50 mJ/cm2, week 2: 70 mJ/cm2, and weeks 3 and 4: 80 mJ/cm2) for 4 weeks. At the end of this period, immunohistochemical staining for galectin-3 was performed on frozen sections of skin specimens, and then they were photographed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Numerous galectin-3-immunoreactive cells, whichwere considered to be immune system cells, were observed in the dermis of Group 3.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is suggested that undiluted O. hypericifolium essential oil may cause an increase in the galectin-3-immunoreactive cells. However, there is a need to research these findings with further molecular analyses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Pinar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: İli
authors.forename: Nazan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Keskin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000494:pharmacology*; D031341:Origanum / Q000737:chemistry*; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D037502:Galectin 3; D009822:Oils, Volatile; C029292:origanum oil