Application study of N-hexadecane on pig skin.

Pig skin was treated with N-hexadecane. Epidermal mitoses, epidermal and dermal histopathology, epidermal phospholipase A2 activity were investigated. The most prominent increase of mitoses was found 48 hours after three applications of n-hexadecane. Epidermal and dermal changes were observed mainly at the same time. Phospholipase A2 activity was decreased when increased mitoses and histological changes were seen. This paradoxical movements of the activity of this enzyme has also been reported in regard to psoriasis.