Interspecies variations in response to topical application of selected zinc compounds.
The dermal irritancy of six zinc compounds was examined in three animal models. In open patch tests involving five daily applications, zinc chloride (1% aqueous solution) was severely irritant in rabbit, guinea-pig and mouse tests, inducing epidermal hyperplasia and ulceration; aqueous zinc acetate (20%) was slightly less irritant. Zinc oxide (20% suspension dilute Tween 80), zinc sulphate (1% aqueous solution) and zinc pyrithione (20% suspension) were not overtly irritant, but induced a marginal epidermal hyperplasia and increased hair growth. Zinc undecylenate (20% suspension) was not irritant. Epidermal irritancy in these studies is related to the interaction of zinc ion with epidermal keratin. The compounds studied were not consistently bacteriostatic in the three species tested.
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Charing Cross and Westminster Medical School, Department of Comparative Biology, London, UK.
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D001407:Bacillus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002712:Chlorides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity; D000078404:Epidermal Cells; D004817:Epidermis / Q000378:metabolism; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006197:Hair / Q000254:growth & development; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008940:Mitotic Index; D010328:Patch Tests; D011817:Rabbits; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000382:microbiology; D013045:Species Specificity; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D017967:Zinc Compounds; D015034:Zinc Oxide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity
D002712:Chlorides; D017967:Zinc Compounds; C016837:zinc chloride; D015032:Zinc; D015034:Zinc Oxide