Transepidermal elimination: studies with an animal model.

Experiments designed to identify the stimulus to transepidermal elimination (TE) are reported. An animal model has been used in which a charcoal suspension is injected intracutaneously and which mimics the process seen in human skin disease. Studied with antihistamines and indomethacin indicate that neither histamine nor prostaglandins are the initiating stimulus, although the latter substances may be responsible for the associated hyperplasia. Experiments using explants of previously injected skin suggest that physical disturbance of the skin may be implicated in the development of the TE response.