Comparative toxicity test of dexamethasone valerate (DV-17) and other steroid ointments in rats

Abstract

The comparative toxicity test was performed on male rats, which were topically treated with a volume of 0.25 g/kg of 0.12% dexamethasone valerate (DV-17) ointment as a test drug, and 0.1% dexamethasone (DEX), 0.05% fluocinonide (FAA), 0.025% beclomethasone dipropionate (BMD), 0.1% hydrocortisone butyrate (HB), 0.05% clobetasol propionate (CP) and 0.12% betamethasone valerate (BMV) ointments as an active control drug for 30 consecutive days to evaluate on the effects of following items: body weight changes, adrenal functions (organ weight, histological changes of the cortex and serum contents of corticosterone), pathological changes of hypophysis and lymphatic systems (thymus, mesenteric lymph nodes and spleen), and skin changes. Furthermore, the recovery test was also carried out. The severity of topical toxicities was in parallel with that of systemic toxicities. Judging from the results obtained in this study, the potency of toxicities among seven corticosteroid ointments appeared to be as follows: FAA>DEX>CP>BMV>DV-17>HB>BMD. The toxicities of DV-17 were comparable with that of BMV, and these side effects were found to be minimized on the recovery test.