DISTRIBUTION IN SKIN OF SYSTEMICALLY ADMINISTERED TETRACYCLINE

SUMMARY. Tetracycline's property of fluorescence has been used to detect the presence of this drug within the epidermis after its injection into rats. Thick cryostat tissue sections were examined with a fluorescence microscope and fluorescence was demonstrated in the basal layer of the epidermis, in the hair follicle epithelium and in the sebaceous glands. There was patchy fluorescence in keratin in sections from the tails of the rats and it is suggested that tetracycline is also preferentially concentrated in parakeratotic areas. A similar distribution of fluorescence was seen in 2 biopsy specimens of lesions from patients with psoriasis treated with tetracycline. The mode of action of tetracycline in acne and rosacea is discussed. Copyright © 1969, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved