Changes in the Matrix Proteins of Wool and Mouse Hair Following the Administration of Depilatory Compounds

Abstract

After sheep were defieeced with mimosine, cyclophosphamide or N-[5-(4-aminophenoxy)pentyl]phthalimide, the first samples of the new growth of wool differed markedly in composition from the pretreatment samples, there being substantial reductions in the high-tyrosine proteins and increases in the high-sulfur proteins. Similar results were obtained with mice dehaired with mimosine and with sheep treated with low levels of mimosine which resulted in weakened wool rather than depilation. The composition of later samples of the regrowth wool showed progressive changes with time. The high-tyrosine proteins tended to approach the pretreatment levels, although this may take up to 12 weeks to occur, whereas the levels of high-sulfur proteins, after the initial increase, often fell below normal. In experiments involving defieecing with cyclophosphamide, the level of the latter proteins was still below normal after 3 months.