Monteiro-Riviere, N.A., J. R. King, and T.O. Manning. In Vitro Evaluation of Bis-2-Chloroethyl Sulfide-Induced Vesication in Perfused Porcine Skin. The Toxicologist 1991. 11: 284.

sulfur mustard - 00505-60-2

Sulfur mustard (bis-2-chloroethyl sulfide; HD) is a potent cutaneous vesicant. High doses of HD cause severe bullous-type vesicles in human skin. The objective of this study is to evaluate and characterize HD toxicity in the isolated perfused porcine skin flap (IPPSF). Twenty-eight IPPSF's were treated with 0.2, 0.5, 1.25, 2.5, 5.0, 10.0 mg/ml of HD and controls (n=4/dose). Biochemical, physiological and morphological endpoints were used to define a dose response profile. HD decreased glucose utilization at all doses throughout the 8 hr perfusion period and increased skin flap vascular resistance. Grossly, blisters were observed at the higher doses. Light microscopy (LM) demonstrated focal basement membrane separation and basal cell pyknosis at the higher doses. Transmission electron microsocpy (TEM) was consistent with these findings. For all parameters, higher doses resulted in a more severe response with morphological changes being most closely correlated to dose. Enzyme histochemistry did not show an HD effect. In conclusion, LM and TEM on the IPPSF produced lesions similar to those seen in humans upon exposure to HD and should be a useful in vitro model for vesicant research.