Miniature swine as an animal model in photodermatology: factors influencing sunburn cell formation.

Swine have played an important role as animal models in dermatological research. In order to evaluate the usefulness of pig skin in photodermatology, sunburn cell (SBC) formation in the epidermis of miniature swine and erythema production were studied. SBCs were readily formed in the epidermis of the swine by ultraviolet radiation. Suberythemal doses of broad-band UVB radiation were effective in producing SBCs, and there was a dose-response relationship between SBC formation and ultraviolet radiation. When SBC formation was related to ultraviolet radiation in terms of biological dose (i.e. minimal erythema dose) neither the spectral characteristics of the sources nor the degree of pigmentation in the skin affected the response. When SBC formation was related to physical dose (J/m2) the protection value of tanning was evident. These results, when coupled with the morphological and physiological similarities between human and porcine skin, demonstrate the usefulness of this animal model in photodermatology.