Th. Snider et al., Model for assessing efficacy of topical skin protectants against sulfur mustard vapor using hairless guinea pigs, J APPL TOX, 19, 1999, pp. S55-S58
Sulfur mustard (HD; 2,2'-dichlorodiethyl sulfide) can produce incapacitatin
g blisters in humans following dermal exposure. Most non-human animal model
s, however, do not form the large fluid-filled blisters observed in humans.
Many models, nevertheless, do produce similar damage at the dermal/epiderm
al junction when evaluated by histopathology, In this study, it was observe
d that the hairless guinea pig (HGP) exhibits similar histopathological res
ponses following exposure to HD vapor. Two sets of HGPs were exposed percut
aneonsly for various lengths of time to HD vapor. In one set, the HGPs were
sacrificed 24 h after exposure, and skin specimens were collected and proc
essed for histopathology, In the other set, light reflectance was measured
at skin test sites 4, 5, 6 and 24 h after exposure, to assess erythema. The
Nikolsky's sign test was also performed 24 h after exposure by rotating a
metal disk glued to the skin test site and inspecting the skin for loss of
epidermis. Probit analysis of data indicated that the exposure durations th
at produced a 50% incidence of microblisters and Nikolsky's sign were ca. 7
.5 and 4.5 min, respectively. Maximum erythema was observed 6 h following a
6 min exposure. Operating parameters for assessing the efficacies of skin
protectants have been characterized.