RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: The aim is to establish the features of morphological and morphometric changes in the skin of guinea pigs in erythemal, early post-erythemal and late post-erythemic periods after local ultraviolet irradiation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: Studies were conducted on 54 albino guinea pigs weighing 400-500 g. Ultraviolet erythema was caused by irradiation in 1 minimum erythemal dose. The control group included intact guinea pigs. After 2, 4 hours, on the 3rd, 8th, 15th, 21st, 28th day, the fragments of the irradiated skin were investigated using histochemical and morphometric methods. RESULTS: Results: After 2, 4 hours after irradiation, dyscirculatory changes in the skin develop. By the 3rd day of the experiment a morphological picture of acute inflammation in the epidermis and dermis develops, apoptotic keratinocytes appear (sunburn cells), which is accompanied by thickening of the epidermis and an increase in the density of fibroblasts. By the 8th day proliferative-hyperplastic and degenerative changes begin to prevail, including dystrophic nature, the thickness of the epidermis and the density of fibroblasts reach a maximum. In the long term, on the 15-28th day, dystrophic changes of the epidermis, dyskeratosis, changes in the number and structure of elastic fibers with an increase in uneven fibrosis, collagenization processes and the development of sclerotic changes, as well as a significant thickening of the epidermis, an increase in the density of fibroblasts are observed. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: The data obtained indicate pronounced morphofunctional changes in the skin in the zone of local ultraviolet irradiation observed throughout the entire observation period.