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The effects of topical and systemic glucocorticosteroids on DNA synthesis in different tissues of the hairless mouse
Author(s) -
MARSHALL ROBERT C.,
BURROWS MICHAEL,
BROOKES LEONARD G.,
VIVIER ANTHONY
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2133.1981.tb00794.x
Subject(s) - hairless , classics , library science , medicine , history , biology , computer science , genetics
SUMMARY Two topical corticosteroids, clobetasol propionate and clobetasone butyrate, have been studied in hairless mice for their effects on DNA synthesis in the epidermis, thymus and spleen. Following topical application, both clobetasol propionate and clobetasone butyrate showed significant activity at the site of application throughout the range of concentrations tested (20 μl; 0.0001–0.1%; 20 ng to 20 μg). However, whereas 20 ng clobetasol propionate also elicited significant effects in the distal (untreated) epidermis and the thymus, more than 2 μg of clobetasone butyrate were required to produce similar effects in these tissues. This finding was supported by the results obtained following intravenous administration of equivalent doses (0.01 and 0.001%; 200 μ1 dose) of the same two steroids. Only clobetasol propionate showed significant activity in the epidermis and thymus. Clobetasone butyrate showed slight, non‐significant effects in the epidermis at the highest concentration (200 μl; 0.01%), but not in the thymus or spleen. An unexpected finding was that the effects following intravenous injection were generally lower than those following topical application. In conclusion, these results establish that (a) effects on DNA synthesis in the epidermis at a site distal to the application site are indicative of systemic activity from topically applied corticosteroids, (b) the thymus is especially sensitive to corticosteroids eliciting systemic effects and (c) an equivalent dose of a topical corticosteroid administered intravenously produces less inhibition of thymic and epidermal DNA synthesis than the same dose applied topically.