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STUDIES ON THE PHOTOPROTECTIVE MECHANISM OF BUTYLATED HYDROXYTOLUENE
Author(s) -
Black Homer S.,
Lenger Wanda,
Gerguis Janette,
McCann Virginia
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
photochemistry and photobiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.818
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1751-1097
pISSN - 0031-8655
DOI - 10.1111/j.1751-1097.1984.tb04556.x
Subject(s) - butylated hydroxytoluene , antioxidant , chemistry , dna synthesis , ornithine decarboxylase , biochemistry , pharmacology , ultraviolet light , photoprotection , dna , biology , photochemistry , enzyme , photosynthesis
It has been suggested that butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) ‡ , a phenolic antioxidant that conveys photoprotective properties to skin, may act by altering epidermal parameters that influence the level of ultraviolet light (UV) reaching critical target sites. The potential diminution of effective UV dose could account for the observed inhibition of UV‐induced ornithine decarboxylase (ODC). Thus studies were conducted to examine the possibility that BHT was capable of promoting epidermal proliferation, just as others have shown with lung epithelial cells. UV‐induction of ODC, in unrestrained Skh‐Hr‐I mice irradiated with Westinghouse FS–20 lamps, was shown to be linearly responsive from 0.3 to 0.6, J/cm 2 /dose. The degree of inhibition afforded by dietary BHT was approximately constant over this dose range. In addition, intraperitoneal administration of BHT (400 mg/kg) inhibited UV‐induced ODC as greatly as when provided dietarily. Greatest inhibition occurred when BHT was administered at least 46 h prior to UV exposure, with the inhibitory event(s) requiring over 20 h to become effective. However, BHT had no effect, during this time interval, upon the incorporation of [ 3 H]thymidine or leucine into DNA and protein, respectively. Nor were BHT effects reflected in the epidermal labeling index. These data suggest that BHT does not induce epidermal proliferation. An alternate explanation, in which the antioxidant properties of BHT play a major role, is proposed.