ASSESSING HISTOLOGICAL SIGNS OF SKIN TISSUE DEGENERATION IN MICE SUBJECTED TO AN ESSENTIAL AMINO ACIDS DEFICIENT DIET

Introduction: Essential amino acids (EAAs) are critical nutrients that cannot be synthesized endogenously and must be supplied through diet. They play key roles in protein synthesis, wound healing, collagen formation, and maintenance of skin barrier function. Deficiency in one or more EAAs can compromise skin integrity, leading to impaired keratinocyte proliferation, reduced collagen synthesis, and tissue degeneration. The skin is the largest organ in mammals, serving as a multifunctional barrier that provides protection from environmental insults, facilitates thermoregulation, prevents desiccation, and plays crucial roles in immune surveillance and sensory reception. Skin integrity depends significantly on sufficient nutritional support, particularly from essential amino acids (EAAs), which are vitalp for cellular repair, collagen synthesis, and tissue regeneration. Methodology: This study employed an experimental design to evaluate the histological impact of essential amino acid (EAA) deficiency specifically lysine and methionine on skin tissue architecture in mice. The investigation was carried out under controlled laboratory conditions to ensure reliability and reproducibility. Mice were divided into two groups: one receiving a standard complete diet and the other fed a diet deficient in lysine and methionine. After a specified period, skin tissues were harvested and histologically examined to identify morphological signs of degeneration. Result: Semi-quantitative scoring of histological features revealed statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) between the control and experimental groups in parameters such as epidermal thickness, collagen density, and inflammatory infiltration. Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrate that a diet deficient in essential amino acids, particularly lysine and methionine, leads to significant histological degeneration in murine skin tissue. Key features of degeneration included epidermal thinning, disrupted dermal collagen, reduced fibroblast activity, and inflammatory infiltration. These findings confirm the importance of EAAs in maintaining skin structure, promoting tissue regeneration, and preventing inflammatory damage. The study highlights the skin’s sensitivity to nutritional status and validates its use as a model organ for assessing the impact of dietary deficiencies.