Alteration of macromolecular events and elemental levels in the skin of UVC exposed hairless mice.

Swiss mice (S/RV/Cri-ba) were exposed to a spectral range of UV light emitting predominantly lambda 253.7 nm. Following a cumulative dose of 22.5 X 10(3) KJ/m2 tumours were induced. The tumour development occurred after 52 weeks, relatively a longer time interval following exposure, compared with shorter time intervals required for production of tumours in mice by spectral range UVA and UVB as observed by other workers. A study of biochemical events viz. levels of protein, DNA, zinc, iron, sodium and potassium has been made in the skin samples of control and irradiated animals following ultraviolet irradiation with a dose of 22.5 X 10(3) KJ/m2. Study of macromolecular events in the skin of control and irradiated mice, showed fluctuations in the levels of DNA. A particularly notable event is the occurrence of increased levels of DNA and zinc and their persistence during the 9-39 weeks post UV interval prior to tumour production. No such variation was observed in the control group in any of the intervals. Increased levels were also seen in case of iron, sodium and potassium at different intervals in the post UV periods. These fluctuations in various biochemical events are deemed to be indicative of UV initiated biochemical changes.