Studies on the 5-3b-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in the sebaceous glands of skin

Muir, Anita Vera (1971) Studies on the 5-3b-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in the sebaceous glands of skin. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

The purpose of research outlined in the course of this thesis was at the outset:- 1. To establish a precise microtechnique suitable for histochemical investigations of hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD) in the sebaceous gland of skin. 2. To attempt to develop a method of quantitation which could be applied to the results obtained from such a study. 3. To collect enough data to enable a survey of the distribution of HSD activity in the sebaceous glands of human skin. 4. To find a suitable laboratory animal in which HSD activity can be demonstrated by the histochemical techniques in the sebaceous glands of skin and special sebaceous structures of skin which would enable further investigations to be carried out into the problems of steroid metabolism in target organs. In the course of the work for reasons stated in the Introduction, it was decided to concentrate on one particular enzyme, the 3beta-hydroxy-Delta5 steroid dehydrogenase and with dehydroepiandrosterone (DHA) as steroid substrate, the histocheinical method was improved, quantitated and a microtechnique established in the demonstration of 3beta HSD activity. In trying to estimate the degree of enzymic activity in the sebaceous glands of a skin specimen, various methods were applied. The result was a semiquantitive method which consists of counting the diformazan granules deposited in the sebaceous gland of skin showing HSD activity, by means of the Wild M20 microscope. This is described and discussed. The search for an experimental animal suitable in histochemical investigations resulted in establishing the presence of HSD activity in the sebaceous glands of skin and in specialised sebaceous organs including the sebaceous glands in the skin of rat, the preputial gland of the rat, the sebaceous glands in the lip of the guinea pig and the costovertebral organ of the Syrian hamster. In the course of the work described many new problems were revealed, some of which were investigated and are described in this thesis. Others are still in the course of investigation. The close connection between the problem investigated and the biochemistry of steroid metabolism and its relationship to the problem of acne vulgaris have been taken into account and the implications of their interaction has been considered.

• Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Additional Information: Adviser: J A Milne
• Keywords: Histology
• Date of Award: 1971
• Depositing User: Enlighten Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:1971-73228
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 14 Jun 2019 08:56
• Last Modified: 14 Jun 2019 08:56
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/73228