Epidermal polyamine profiles after multiple exposures to ultraviolet radiation.

In experimental studies of u.v.-skin-carcinogenesis u.v.-radiation is usually given in discrete amounts over a protracted period of time. Epidermal polyamine profiles were investigated in hairless mice after single and multiple exposures to ultraviolet-B (u.v.B). Hairless mice were irradiated with u.v.B from FS40 sunlamps and sacrificed after 1, 5, 10 or 20 days of daily irradiation with 0.9 kJ/sq m u.v.B at 6, 24 or 48 h after the final irradiation. Epidermis was analyzed for ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity, and for its putrescine, spermidine and spermine content. Skin biopsies were examined for histological changes. As previously reported epidermal ODC activity was induced 6 h after one irradiation with u.v.B and reached a maximum activity at approximately 24 h. In contrast after 5, 10 or 20 daily irradiations with u.v.B the epidermal ODC activity was maximal at approximately 6 h after the final irradiation and by 24 h had returned towards control levels. The magnitude of the ODC activity measured 6 h after irradiation increased with the number of irradiations. A similar pattern was seen with epidermal putrescine levels where a marked shift from a peak at approximately 24 h after one irradiation with u.v.B to a peak at approximately 6 h after 20 days of irradiation with u.v.B occurred. Spermidine levels increased as the number of u.v.B exposures was increased and spermine levels tended to decrease. The spermidine/spermine ratio increased most rapidly during the first 5 exposures, and remained elevated through to 20 days of daily irradiation. Chronic irradiation with u.v.B results in rapid induction of ODC activity and putrescine accumulation in the epidermis, events also elevated by chemical or viral transformation.