Topical tritiated thymidine for epidermal growth fraction determination.

Direct autoradiographic identification of the epidermal growth fraction (GF) requires the delivery of tritiated thymidine ([3H]dThd) to the skin during the time interval of an entire cell cycle. The GF in normal human epidermis has not been directly measured using this technique because the systemic infusion of radioactive [3H]dThd in benign skin conditions is precluded by ethical considerations. Studies were undertaken to assess the feasibility of measuring the epidermal GF in vivo by the topical delivery of [3H]dThd. The percutaneous penetration of [3H]dThd in various vehicles was evaluated to select an effective topical delivery system. A vehicle consisting of Azone, isopropanol, and water (2:49:49) was the best of 4 different vehicles tested. The optimal penetration of [3H]dThd, with respect to the concentration of Azone over a range of 0-4%, was achieved at 2%. During the initial 24 h following a single topical application of [3H]dThd to hairless mice the labeling increased linearly with time. In vivo studies in hairless mice produced a GF of 95% by both continuous systemic [3H]dThd infusion, and by twice daily topical [3H]dThd. Azone vehicles induced epidermal hyperplasia which was minimized by lowering the Azone concentration and by decreasing the frequency of applications from 24 to 48 h. These studies establish the rationale for using topical delivery of [3H]dThd for the in vivo measurement of epidermal GF.