Percutaneous penetration of 14C hydrocortisone in man. II. Effect of certain bases and pretreatments

Abstract

Single doses of radiolabeled¹⁴C hydrocortisone and testosterone were applied to the human forearm; rates and quantities of¹⁴C penetration were determined by assay of¹⁴C urine for five days. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and dimethyl formamide (DMF) increased penetration of both steroids threefold to fourfold. Mineral oil was without obvious effect; propylene glycol (PG) and dimethyl acetamide (DMAC) decreased the penetration of hydrocortisone and moderately increased that of testosterone.