Observations on Epidermal Exsorption in Mice Following Injections of Procion Dyes and Ethidium Bromide and Topically Applied Dimethyl Sulfoxide

• Published in: Journal of investigative dermatology Vol. 82; no. 6; pp. 629 - 631
• Main Authors: Shackleford, John M., Yielding, K Lemone, Scherff, Albert H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Danvers, MA Elsevier Inc 01.06.1984; Nature Publishing
• Subjects: Administration, Topical; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Coloring Agents - administration & dosage; Coloring Agents - metabolism; Dimethyl Sulfoxide - administration & dosage; Dimethyl Sulfoxide - pharmacology; Epidermis - drug effects; Epidermis - metabolism; Ethidium - administration & dosage; Ethidium - metabolism; Injections, Intraperitoneal; Injections, Intravenous; Medical sciences; Mice; Mice, Hairless; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Skin Absorption - drug effects; Skin, nail, hair, dermoskeleton; Triazines - administration & dosage; Triazines - metabolism; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Dyes; Mouse; Animal; Rodentia; Epidermis; Skin; Permeability; Topical administration
• ISSN: 0022-202X; 1523-1747
• DOI: 10.1111/1523-1747.ep12261467

Back skin of hairless mice and external ears of CD-1 white mice were used to study the details of epidermal exsorption. Ethidium bromide, a DNA ligand, and two dichlorotriazinyl (procion) dyes were injected, i.v. or i.p. Migration patterns from the skin vasculature into the epidermis were observed by fluorescence microscopy and microspectrofluorometry. Topically applied DMSO greatly enhanced the exsorption process and produced intensely labeled epidermis. Ethidium bromide reacted primarily with nuclear DNA of living cells while the procion dyes tended to migrate intercellularly to label the stratum corneum. External ears of white mice treated topically with DMSO showed a pattern of labeling which included intense fluorescence of the cartilage and perichondrium as well as the ear epidermis.