Chelators Depigment and Inorease Elasticity of Mink Skin

Abstract The effect of subcutaneous injection of four Cu2+ and Fe2+ ion chelators was studied in scanblack minks. The pattern of macromolecular connective tissue components, histology and biochemistry of the skin were analyzed. The purpose of the two experiments performed was to try to establish the influence of age and the interrelationship of skin and hair depigmentation occasionally observed in minks. Further determinations included levels and pattern of serum proteins, copper, iron and zinc as well as level of various enzymes in serum. Adrenaline and the higher dose of sodium diethyldithiocarbamate are shown to produce skin and hair depigmentation, increase elasticity of mink skin and also to disturb hair growth. All chelators produced increased levels of copper, iron and zinc in serum. Urinary excretion of a glycosaminoglycan fraction more cationic than sulfated glycosaminoglycans and suggested to be related to the unsulfated hyaluronic acid and/or chondroitin by the chelator-injected minks, is repor...