THE MEASUREMENT OF SEBUM SECRETION TN THE RAT ANGELA

Abstract

SUMMARY.— Surface lipids were removed from anaesthetized rats by dipping them into lipid solvent up to the neck. After varying time intervals, the lipid which had accumulated was removed and assayed gravimetrically. The accumulation of lipid was linearly related to time up until the fourth day, after which it decreased. Passive accumulation from a reservoir of lipid was excluded by the finding that the amount of lipid extracted at 7 successive 4‐day intervals did not decrease. The lipid accumulation during the first hours after solvent extraction was too rapid to be accounted for by lipid originating from growth of hair and epidermis. It was concluded that sebum secretion was measured and the rate during the first 4 days was 13·3 ± 0·4 mg./100 G. body weight.