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Updated: Apr 29, 2026
A Protocol for Constructing a Rat Wound Model of Type 1 Diabetes
Published on: February 17, 2023
Effect of induced acute diabetes and insulin therapy on stratum corneum barrier function in rat skin
Paul A Lehman1, Thomas J Franz
1Department of Dermatology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, John L. McCleelan Memorial Veterans Hospital, Little Rock, Ark., USA.
Background:
A wide variety of cutaneous manifestations are associated with diabetes. However, there is a paucity of information on stratum corneum barrier function in diabetics, with and without insulin therapy.
Methods:
To assess for alteration of the stratum corneum, its barrier function was tested by evaluating the percutaneous absorption of water, ethanol, lidocaine and hydrocortisone, in vitro, on normal control, 4-week diabetic and 8-day insulin-treated diabetic Sprague-Dawley CD rats.
Results:
Total water penetration was not different between the 3 groups though flux profiles were different. Both total penetration and peak flux of lidocaine and hydrocortisone increased slightly in the diabetic rats over the control group. However, total penetration and peak flux (including ethanol) were significantly increased in the insulin-treated rats.
Conclusion:
The data indicate that diabetes modestly alters stratum corneum physiology but less so than that seen following insulin therapy.
