[An experimental study of the morphogenetic properties of several phenols inducing phenocopies of vitiligo]

In an experiment with black guinea pigs a phenocopy of vitiligo was obtained by means of the exposure of the skin to the action of p-tert-butyl-phenol (PTBP) or to catechol (C). Two other compounds: 2,2-dihydroxy-diphenylpropane (DDP) and 2, 4, 6-tri-tert-butyl-phenol (TTBP) exerted a hypopigmentary effect. PTBP and C depigmented the skin but caused no preceding inflammation. Spots of depigmented (white) skin and hairs were surrounded by a zone of hyperpigmentation. Leukoderma proved to be stable, in some cases irreversible, and exhibited a tendency to progressing and spontaneous dissemination. In the experiments with Drosophila melanogaster both PTBP and C were observed to possess a morphogenetic capacity: they induced a change in the puparium colour (C), as well as of the colour of body and wings of adult flies, inducing also disturbances of wing development practically in 100% of individuals to which these substances were administrated with food at the larval stage. None of the four preparations tested exerted any mutagenic effect in cells of imaginal buds of Drosophila melanogaster.