Ann Dermatol.  1998 Jul;10(3):153-158. 10.5021/ad.1998.10.3.153.

The Ultrastructural Changes of Stratum Corneum Lipids after Application of Oleic Acid in Propylene Glycol

• Jiang SJ
• Kim YK
• Lee SH

• KMID: 2359781
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5021/ad.1998.10.3.153

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The stratum corneum presents a significant barrier to transdermal drug delivery. Approaches to improve percutaneous absorption of drugs have included iontophoresis and skin penetration enhancers. Oleic acid has been studied as a skin penetration enhancer for drugs, primarily via its action mainly on the stratum corneum lipid structure.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to assess the interaction between oleic acid and stratum corneum lipids in vivo.
METHODS
Male hairless mice were treated topically with oleic acid. Barrier function was assessed by transepidermal water loss measurement and ultrastructural observation with ruthenium tetroxide (RuOâ‚„) staining.
RESULTS
Oleic acid in propylene glycol had a profound effect on epidermal barrier function and was found to be concentration dependent. Moreover, ultrastructural examination with RuO4 post-fixation demonstrated that there were marked alterations in the stratum corneum lipid structure.
CONCLUSION
This study provides direct evidence that oleic acid increases the epidermal permeability through a mechanism involving the stratum corneum lipid membrane perturbation via the lacunae formation within the stratum corneum.

Keyword

Barrier function; Oleic acid; Propylene glyco; Ruthenium tetroxide(RuOâ‚„); Stratum corneum lipids

MeSH Terms

Animals
Humans
Iontophoresis
Male
Membranes
Mice
Mice, Hairless
Oleic Acid*
Permeability
Propylene Glycol*
Ruthenium
Skin
Skin Absorption
Water
Oleic Acid
Propylene Glycol
Ruthenium
Water