A multisample apparatus for kinetic evaluation of skin penetration in vitro: the influence of viability and metabolic status of the skin.

An apparatus is described for convenient in vitro quantitation of the rate, extent, and character of living skin penetration by chemicals. Evidence that viability markedly affects epidermal penetration was based upon observations utilizing benzo(a)pyrene. This compound displayed saturation kinetics in the extent of penetration, marked elevation in the rate, and extent of penetration following induction of epidermal mixed function oxidase and negligible penetration of skin previously frozen. These data are interpreted to indicate that for certain compounds, such as benzo(a)pyrene where cutaneous metabolism is expected, meaningful in vitro measures of skin penetration should take into consideration the biochemical viability and metabolic status of the tissue.