Radioautography of noradrenaline-14-C in atopic dermatitis.

Since storage-time of administered noradrenaline in the skin of patients with atopic dermatitis may be prolonged, it would be of interest to demonstrate the site of uptake of noradrenaline-(14)C in atopic dermatitis as compared with other eczematous and normal skins. Two adult patients with longstanding atopic dermatitis, a patient with contact dermatitis to nickel and one with normal skin, were studied. Identical sites in the four patients were injected intradermally with 0.02 mug. DL-noradrenaline-7-(14)C acetate. An 8-mm. punch biopsy of the injected site was performed 24 hours later. Radioautographs were developed between three and 199 days, according to the technique of Kopriwa and Leblond.(2) At 199 days, the number of grains in atopic dermatitic skin was greater than in contact dermatitis or normal skin. There was a concentration of grains over arrectores pilorum muscles and the upper one-third of the epidermis of atopic skin. Grains were also visible in proximity to arteriolar walls. There were few grains visible in the control sections. The results confirm earlier studies suggesting that atopic dermatitic skin retains noradrenaline longer than other dermatoses. Noradrenaline concentrates in the arrectores pilorum muscles and the upper epidermis. These findings may explain the cutis anserina (goose-flesh) appearance in atopic dermatitis.