Skin absorption and cutaneous first pass metabolism of topical steroids: in vitro studies with mouse skin in organ culture.

Using mouse skin maintained in a permeability chamber-organ culture system, we have examined the percutaneous penetration and cutaneous fate of some selected steroids. At 16 hr after in vitro topical application (10 micrograms/2 cm2), the extent of permeation of the selected steroids was testosterone (65.13%) much greater than cortisol (18.1%) = estradiol (18.0%) greater than estrone (10.58%) much greater than estriol (2.45%). Permeation was accompanied by cutaneous first pass metabolism. In addition to water-soluble metabolites, other metabolites found in the perfusion medium from topical testosterone included 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone, 5 alpha-androstanedione and androstenedione. Cortisone was identified as one of the metabolites of topical cortisol. For the estrogens, estradiol and estriol were metabolites of topical estrone, whereas estrone and estriol were metabolites of topical estradiol. The extent of cutaneous first pass metabolism of these selected steroids varies considerably. Estrone was metabolized extensively, but only limited metabolism of estradiol and cortisol was observed during their translocation through the skin. With testosterone, it was evident that an increase in the topically applied dose was accompanied by a decrease in the relative extent of both permeation and cutaneous first pass metabolism. However, cutaneous first pass metabolism of estriol was essentially negligible. These observations demonstrated that both diffusional and metabolic processes are important in the percutaneous fate of topical steroids. They also suggest that in future studies concerned with the absorption and bioavailability of topically applied chemicals, an assessment of the drug-metabolizing capabilities of the skin needs to be considered.