Quantitative Histochemistry Of Nicotinamide Adenine Nucleotides In Human Skin

• Published in: Journal of investigative dermatology Vol. 55; no. 4; pp. 277 - 281
• Main Authors: Im, Michael J.C., Hoopes, John E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.10.1970
• Subjects: Abdomen; Aged; Epithelium - enzymology; Female; Hair - enzymology; Histocytochemistry; Humans; Methods; NAD - analysis; NADP - analysis; Oxidation-Reduction; Regeneration; Sebaceous Glands - enzymology; Skin - enzymology; Sweat Glands - enzymology; Wound Healing
• ISSN: 0022-202X; 1523-1747
• DOI: 10.1111/1523-1747.ep12259988

The NAD and NADP system was measured in freeze-dried samples (0.3 μg) of epidermis, hair follicle, sebaceous gland, sweat gland, and dermis by means of enzyme cycling methods. The absolute concentration of nucleotides ranged from 10‒15 to 10‒12 moles in an assay with 1: 40,000 tissue dilution at the enzyme cycling step. The total NAD was distributed similarly in the cutaneous organs, and its concentration was approximately 1 mμ mole per mg dry weight. The degree of oxidation of NAD was lowest in sebaceous gland. Less than 40 per cent of the total NAD was in the reduced state in the skin. The concentration of total NADP ranged from 100 to 300 μμ moles per mg dry weight, 50–70 per cent of which was in the reduced form. The concentration of both total NADP and NADPH was highest in sebaceous gland; the ratio of NAD to NADP was lowest in sebaceous gland. The higher concentration and higher degree of reduction of the NADP system in sebaceous gland coincides with the fact that the activities of NADP-dependent enzymes are higher in sebaceous gland and that this gland is the most active site of lipogenesis in skin. The concentration of nicotinamide adenine nucleotides and the degree of their reduction increased in proliferating and migrating epithelium during wound healing.