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Kwashiorkor: an electron histochemical study of the hair shaft
Author(s) -
GUMMER C.L.,
DAWBER R.P.R.,
HARMAN R.R.M.,
KING ISOBEL S.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2133.1982.tb04532.x
Subject(s) - kwashiorkor , cystine , weaning , hair shaft , keratin , amino acid , scalp , chemistry , biology , physiology , biochemistry , medicine , endocrinology , cysteine , pathology , anatomy , malnutrition , enzyme , hair follicle
SUMMARY Previous studies on hair in kwashiorkor have been equivocal regarding the normal or abnormal incorporation of amino acids into the hair shaft. In this study we have applied a sensitive electron histochemical technique to transverse sections of scalp hair from children with severe kwashiorkor in order to study its infrastructure and the incorporation of sulphur‐containing amino acids (cystine). We have found no evidence to support the idea that a protein deficient diet in the weaning or post‐weaning period directly affects the distribution and relative amounts of sulphur‐containing amino acids in the hair shaft in this disease.