The in-vitro percutaneous absorption of glycerol trioleate through hairless mouse skin

The chemical composition of the aqueous receptor fluid in one-chambered diffusion cells used for in-vitro percutaneous absorption studies has been shown to significantly affect the apparent extent of absorption of the triglyceride, glycerol trioleate. Using murine skin samples it was found that the addition of albumin to the receptor fluid resulted in an increase in the apparent extent of absorption, while the presence of the bacteriostatic agent thiomersal resulted in a decrease. The viability of the skin samples had no effect on absorption. It was determined that the chemical species in the receptor fluid was the free fatty acid. Albumin presumably bound the fatty acid, thereby creating a sink which enabled the fatty acid to partition from the skin into the receptor fluid.