Risks of Protein Conditioner Application under the Impact of Heat and/or Gamma Irradiation in Albino Rats

Abstract

Received: 20th Dec. 2020 Accepted: 5th Apr. 2021 The objective of the submitted work was to assess the effect of hot air and/ or gamma irradiation following the application of a protein hair conditioner on the skin hygiene. Ninety six albino rats were employed in this work, one half of them were females and the other half was males. The animals were divided into eight main groups; each included six males and six females. Rats in group 1 (control) and they were fed free on normal food and water. Rats of groups 2, 3 and 4were rubbed with protein conditioner for one, two and three times, respectively, every so often was separated by seven days duration. Following every treatment, the rats were exposed to hot air from a blow dryer (95 C) for one minute. Rats in groups 5, 6 and 7 were treated in the same manner and after one week, they exposed to a single dose whole body gamma irradiation (10 Gy). Rats in group 8 were treated once with protein conditioner and they were directly exposed to the same irradiation dose. Post one week of irradiation, all rats were anesthetized and blood samples were collected for biochemical analyses, while shaven skin cuts from the centre protein applying area for histological examinations. Morphological observations revealed decreases in hair density, alopecia and skin ulcer. Whereas, the biochemical results indicated that serum collagen I (Col. I) contents decreased while heat shock protein (HSP70) concentrations increased as treatment repetitions. The level of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) exhibited inconsistence trend. Histopathological observations confirmed the morphological findings particularly the skin ulcer phenomenon.