A Further Study of the Effects of Polycyclic Hydrocarbons and Croton Oil on Mouse Skin -SH Levels

DURING a previous study of the effects of polycyclic hydrocarbons and croton oil on mouse skin sulphydryl (-SH) levels Calcutt and Coates (1961) found a time difference in the response to croton oil alone as compared with croton oil after a sensitising treatment with 7,12-dimethylbenzanthracene. This raised the question as to whether the sensitising dose of carcinogen had caused some tissue damage which had influenced the later response to croton oil. The present work was designed to examine this possibility further and also to determine whether any similar effect was obtained when oleic acid was used as a promoting agent in the place of croton oil All measurements of tissue-SH levels were made as in the previous work