EFFECT OF COLCHICINE ON ATHEROSCLEROSIS .3. STUDY OF DERMAL ELASTIC FIBERS BY QUANTITATIVE HISTOCHEMISTRY, AUTOMATED IMAGE-ANALYSIS

  • 1 January 1985
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 3  (5) , 234-239
Abstract
Computerized automatic-image analytical procedure was applied on dermal biopsies stained for elastin by a new procedure giving a completely white background and staining only the elastic fiber system. In arteriosclerotic hypertensive patients, 3-4 months'' treatment with 1 mg colchicine per day resulted in a significant (60-80%, p < 0.01) increase of the dermal elastic fiber density both in the superficial papillary dermis and in the deep dermis. This result shows that the age-dependent increase of elastic fibers can be influenced by pharmacological means. The inhibition by colchicine of the synthesis and secretion of the fibroblast-derived metalloelastase-type protease could be a plausible explanation of this finding.