Effect of artificial daylight illumination on rabbits fur colouration and skin histopathology

ABSTRACT

This work was undertaken to clarify the change of rabbit's fur coloration produced by long time illumination to a powerful artificial daylight source of 500 watt. The exposure period extended up to three months successively at a rate 17 hours/day. Comparison was made in relation to control sets, which were allowed to stay under the natural day light illumination in almost similar conditions. It was concluded that rabbit's furs of the first group, showed higher reflection spectra at all visible wave length range accompanied by an increase of the brightness and whiteness index values. Nevertheless, the observed overall color difference change [delta E] in relation to the standard white of this group, gave lower values than the control group. The obtained results assured the fact that, the rabbit's fur became more white after being illuminated by artificial day light, and this was observed clearly by vision. Histopathological examination of the rabbit skin was studied. The results revealed atrophy of epidermis with increase in the elastic fibers that became fragmented and clumped with hyperplasia of collagen bundle. These changes are more apparent after prolonged exposure