Abstract— Clinical laboratory investigations as well as light, electron microscopic and X‐ray microanalytical studies on skin biopsy specimens and hair from 10 yorkshire terriers suffering from Colour Dilution Alopecia (CDA) were carried out. Biochemical data detected a marked melanin reduction in hair from affected areas. Histologically, melanin clumps were mainly evident in the epidermal basal layer cells as well as inside the bulb and hair shaft. Ultrastructurally, basal keratinocytes were overloaded by fully melanized melanosomes disrupting cytoplasmic structures. Intracytoplasmic and free melanosomes were also evident in all cutaneous layers. Scanning electron microscopy showed holes and bulges scattered in the hair shaft. X‐Ray microanalysis demonstrated silicate particles in the more superficial cuticular holes and calcium in the deeper fractured layers. Based on these observations a new hypothesis on the pathogenetic mechanism(s) of alopecia is proposed. Roperto, Franco; Cerundolo, Rosario; Restucci, Brunella; Vincensi, MARIA R.; DE Caprariis, Donato; Vico, GIONATA DE; Maiolino, Paola
Colour Dilution Alopecia (CDA) in Ten yorkshire Terriers
DE CAPRARIIS, Donato;
1995-01-01
Abstract
Abstract— Clinical laboratory investigations as well as light, electron microscopic and X‐ray microanalytical studies on skin biopsy specimens and hair from 10 yorkshire terriers suffering from Colour Dilution Alopecia (CDA) were carried out. Biochemical data detected a marked melanin reduction in hair from affected areas. Histologically, melanin clumps were mainly evident in the epidermal basal layer cells as well as inside the bulb and hair shaft. Ultrastructurally, basal keratinocytes were overloaded by fully melanized melanosomes disrupting cytoplasmic structures. Intracytoplasmic and free melanosomes were also evident in all cutaneous layers. Scanning electron microscopy showed holes and bulges scattered in the hair shaft. X‐Ray microanalysis demonstrated silicate particles in the more superficial cuticular holes and calcium in the deeper fractured layers. Based on these observations a new hypothesis on the pathogenetic mechanism(s) of alopecia is proposed. Roperto, Franco; Cerundolo, Rosario; Restucci, Brunella; Vincensi, MARIA R.; DE Caprariis, Donato; Vico, GIONATA DE; Maiolino, PaolaI documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
