Evidence of the Effect of Intraepidermic Vitamin C Injection on Melanocytes and Keratinocytes in Gingival Tissues: In Vivo Study

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the immediate effect of vitamin C injection on the physiologic hyperpigmented gingiva of native black goats Design: Fifteen black goats were enrolled in this study. Different doses of vitamin C were injected in the hyperpigmented tissues. The examined animals were divided into 3 groups; Gp I (control) injected with saline, Gp II and III were injected with 10 mm and 30 mm of vitamin C respectively. Incisional biopsies were taken after injection. The specimens were examined histologically and immunohistochemically. Results: The histological results revealed a marked decrease in melanin pigment and an increase in the number of cells with the perinuclear haloing in both groups II and III as compared to the control one. Conclusions: It could be concluded that vitamin C has a potent effect on melanocytes. Vitamin C affected the melanocytes function and their quantitative productivity, as well as decreasing the cell-cell contact between melanocytes and keratinocytes. Increasing the vitamin dose augmented its depigmenting effect.