Effect of Occlusion upon Rat Skin on the Activities of Cutaneous Oxygen Radical Metabolizing Enzymes in Rats

To evaluate the effect of occlusive skin on the activity of cutaneous oxygen free radical metabolizing enzymes in rats, the dorsal skin was covered with closed glass chamber shaped petri dish, 46 mm in diameter and 10 mm in height and sealed by an adhesive. Five day-occluded group showed more increased activity of xanthine oxidase (XO) than that of control, and the activity of five day-occluded group was higher than that of ten day-occluded group. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were significantly higher in ten day-occluded group than in control or five day-occluded group. All the more, five day-occluded group showed the decreasing tendency of SOD and GPx activities compared to those of control. On the other hand, the cerrous perhydroxide deposits were observed in the intercellular space of the stratum basale in five day-occluded group under the electronic microscope using a cytochemistry method. Futhermore, the degree of cerrous perhydroxide reaction was lower in ten day-occluded group than in five day-occluded group. In conclusion, the increased XO activity and the decreased SOD and GPx activities are likely to responsible far the accumulation of $H_2O_2$ in five day-occluded group.