SEBACEOUS GLANDS

Abstract

As studied in samples of dorsal skin taken at biopsy and measured by sebaceous cell counts, the sebaceous alveoli of immature female rats increased in size for 2 days after the implantation of 1 mg. of oestradiol benzoate, and decreased progressively on days 3, 5 and 9 to a level much below normal on day 20. This was accompanied by an increase in size of the sebaceous cells which was evident by the first day after implantation. There was no subsequent decrease in size below normal. Changes in alveolar number may also have taken place. Wounding appeared to increase the size of the sebaceous glands for a distance of at least 2–8 mm. from the edge of the wound, and this effect was apparent even 1 day after wounding.