PROTECTION BY ALPHA-TOCOPHEROL AGAINST SKIN ULCERS INDUCED BY IONIZING-RADIATIONS

An in vivo study was carried out to determine the protective character of alpha-tocopherol against lesions caused by free radicals of ionizi ng radiation. Emulsified vehicles (o/w) were used at dosages of 1.5 an d 2.5% w/w of alpha-tocopherol. To promote generation of free radicals , we used 6 MeV electrons from a lineal accelerator; a dosage of 2800 cGy was selected. The lesions were assessed according to the indicatio ns of the WHO, modified for such an effect. Biopsies of the treated ar eas were taken at the moment of maximum acute toxicity in order to sub ject them to an anatomopathological study, evaluating five parameters: thickness of epidermis, squamous metaplasia of the adnexa, overall im pression, follicular atrophy and density of fibroblasts. The conclusio ns of this study indicate that under the experimental conditions used, alpha-tocopherol, applied topically, protects the skin from ionizing radiation, giving rise to a thicker epidermis than found in healthy an imals.