THE EFFECT OF DMSO ON PERCUTANEOUS PENETRATION OF HYDROCORTISONE AND TESTOSTERONE IN MAN *

Ring-labeled hydrocortisone* * and testosterone were used. Previous studies demonstrated that, when given intravenously (i.v.) in man, these steroids are recovered in 70% or greater amounts of urine.' A 25% solution of the vehicle in acetone was used to dissolve the steroid. We applied 0.1 cc of the solution containing .06 mg of steroid to the skin with a 100 lambda pipette (FIGURE 1). The test site was the unprepared ventral forearm; 13 sq cm was the standard area. The final concentration of steroid in the residual vehicle was 0.24%; 2 mg of base was applied per sq cm of skin. This concentration of base is within the range applied by patients.' The treated site was not protected in any way, except that the normal male volunteer subjects were requested not to bathe this area for one day. Twenty-four-hour urines were collected for five days and analyzed for C by a method modified from that previously described.' 14