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Estradiol distribution and penetration in rat skin after topical application, studied by high resolution autoradiography

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Summary

Transdermal pathways and targets in the skin for estradiol were investigated using dry-mount autoradiography.3H-estradiol-17β was applied at doses of 30.1 pmol, 120.4 pmol and 301 pmol/cm2 to shaved rat skin in the dorsal neck region. Vehicles were DMSO, ethylene glycol or sesame oil. After 2 h of topical treatment with 30.1 pmol3H-estradiol×cm−2 dissolved in DMSO a distinct cellular distribution was apparent. Target cells with concentrations of radioactivity were found in epidermis, sebaceous glands, dermal papillae of hair and fibroblasts. After treatment with 120.4 and 301 pmol/cm2, a penetration gradient of radioactivity was recognizable however it masked specific cellular and subcellular uptake. The stratum corneum accumulated and retained radioactivity, apparently forming a depot for the hormone. Strong concentration and retention of the hormone was conspicious in sebaceous glands for more than 24 h, suggesting that sebaceous glands serve as a second storage site for the hormone. In all autoradiograms two penetration pathways to the dermis were visible: one through the stratum corneum and epidermis, the other through the hair canals and hair sheaths.

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Author notes

  1. H. F. Solomon

    Present address: R.W. Johnson Pharmaceutical Research Institute, 19477-0776, Spring House, PA, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Cell Biology and Anatomy, and Pharmacology, University of North Carolina, 27599, Chapel Hill, NC

    H. J. Bidmon, J. D. Pitts, H. F. Solomon & W. E. Stumpf

  2. Merck Sharp & Dohme Research Laboratories, 19486, West Point, Pa, USA

    H. F. Solomon & J. V. Bondi

Authors
  1. H. J. Bidmon
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  2. J. D. Pitts
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  3. H. F. Solomon
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  4. J. V. Bondi
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  5. W. E. Stumpf
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Additional information

This work was supported by US PHS grant NS09914

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Bidmon, H.J., Pitts, J.D., Solomon, H.F. et al. Estradiol distribution and penetration in rat skin after topical application, studied by high resolution autoradiography. Histochemistry 95, 43–54 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00737227

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