Dynamics of changes in skin lipids after stress: Effects of exogenous melatonin

Changes in the skin lipid composition induced by water-immersion stress in rats treated and untreated with melatonin were studied by thin-layer chromatography. Skin lipids showed a delayed reaction to stress. Melatonin exerted a protective effect which was manifested on the 2nd day after treatment in restoration of the level of total lipids and the absolute content of the majority of lipid fractions. The data suggest modification of, the metabolic relationships between skin lipids as well as lipids of the blood and subcutaneous adipose tissue.