We investigated free radical reactions in lung of living mice using an in vivo electron spin resonance (ESR) spectrometer and nitroxyl radical as a probe. When an aqueous solution of nitroxyl probe was trans-tracheally administered into lung of living mice, a sharp triplet signal was observed at the chest of the mice. The signal showed a gradual decrease with time, obeying first-order kinetics. Signal decay rates of carbamoyl-PROXYL and carboxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-piperidine-N-oxyl were faster than those of CAT-1 and carboxy-PROXYL. The mechanism of signal decay may be attributed to (i) reaction with reactive oxygen species such as ·OH, (ii) transfer into blood circulation, or (iii) reduction by compounds continuously supplied. However, little is known about the clearance mechanism of the nitroxyl probe in lung. To evaluate the disappearance of the ESR signal of the nitroxyl probe in lung, in vivo ESR spectra in chest of mice was recorded after trans-tracheal administration of an aqueous high concentrate solution of nitroxyl probe. A broad signal from the chest was observed immediately after administration due to Heisenberg spin exchange interaction. A sharp triplet signal was superimposed on the broad signal and the appearance of a triplet signal was followed by disappearance of the broad one. Peak-to-peak line width of the sharp signal was almost the same as that after intravenous administration. A distinct signal was detected in blood collected 10 min after trans-tracheal administration of nitroxyl probe. The observations indicate the transfer from lung to blood circulation and its contribution to clearance of probe in lung. Appearance of a sharp signal in blood after trans-tracheal administration was dependent on the kind of nitroxyl probe, showing a different transfer rate from lung to blood.

여성의 얼굴에 과색소침착이 발생하는 것은 불안감, 특히 미적인 요소에 있어서 많은 고민을 유발한다. 피부의 흑화는 자외선(UV)에 대하여 이를 방어하기 위한 기작으로 멜라닌의 양과 밀접한 관계가 있다. 이러한 피부의 구성성분을 관찰하기 위해, confocal scanning laser microscope (CSLM)은 피부에 직접 현미경 검사를 실시하여 어떠한 조직의 변화 없이 피부를 실시간으로 관찰할 수 있는 비침습적 이미지 장치이다. 본 연구에서는 자외선 조사를 통해 유도된 하박 내측 피부의 과색소침착을 유도하여, 다른 피부색을 평가하는 측정기기와 상관성을 분석하여, CSLM을 이용한 새로운 미백 평가방법을 제시하였다. CSLM을 활용한 미백 효능 평가법은 소비자가 보다 이해하기 쉽도록 미백 제품을 평가하는데 유용할 것으로 생각된다.