title: Effect of age on the in vitro percutaneous absorption of phenols in mice.
abstract: The effect of age on the in vitro dermal absorption of acetamidophenol, phenol, cyanophenol and heptyloxyphenol was examined. Skin from pre-clipped male C57BL/6N mice of ages 3, 15 and 27 months was mounted in flow-through diffusion cells. [(14)C]Phenol and its analogues (4 mug/cm(2)) were applied to the skin (0.32 cm(2)) in ethanol (5 mul) and absorption was measured under occluded conditions for 72 hr. Significant age effects on the disposition of phenol and heptyloxyphenol were observed in the penetration of compound into the receptor fluid as well as that retained in the skin. The receptor fluid content of these two compounds was significantly greater in 27-month-old mice compared with the younger animals. In addition, penetration of phenol in 15-month-old mice was significantly greater than in 3-month-old mice. However, the differences in phenol penetration were small (< 5%). The maximal flux of cyanophenol and phenol penetration were affected by age. The maximal flux for cyanophenol was significantly lower in 15-month-old mice than in 3- and 27-month-old animals. The maximal flux for phenol was significantly greater in 27-month-old mice compared with the younger animals. The overall effect of age on the in vitro dermal absorption of phenols in C57BL/6N mouse skin appears to be compound dependent.
authors.affiliation: ManTech Environmental Technology, Inc., Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Birnbaum
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Hall