Lipid Synthesis from Acetate-1- 14 C by Suction Blister Epidermis and Other Skin Components 1

Abstract

Summary

Lipids synthesized from acetate-1-¹⁴C in vitro in human dermis, epidermis, and sebaceous glands were examined. On the average, epidermis incorporates more ¹⁴C into lipids than dermis does in a given specimen. On per milligram basis, epidermis is several times more active than dermis.

The lipids were separated into eight classes by chromatography on Unisil and Florisil columns. ¹⁴C was found in all lipid classes. The major amounts of ¹⁴C were found in the sterols, glycerides, and polar lipids of both dermis and epidermis, but greater proportions of ¹⁴C were found in the sterol and polar lipid fractions of epidermis than in corresponding fractions of dermis. Synthesis of squalene and triglycerides appeared to characterize the activity of the sebaceous glands.

The epidermis excised from suction blisters was found active in synthesizing lipids from acetate-l-¹⁴C, and the activity appeared to increase after the ingestion of 100 g of glucose, indicating metabolic regulation of lipid synthesis in the epidermis.