The following day the rats were killed by CO2 asphyxiation and the dorsal
skin was removed immediately. Skin sections of approximately 350 μm
thickwere removed with a Padgett dermatome
and placed in receptor fluid. Skin discs were cut from each skin with a
0.75-inch diameter bow punch. The thickness of each skin was
measured along its edge with microcalipers. The mean (±SD) skin thickness was
350(±30)μm. The discs were mounted epidermal side up in the flowthrough
cells.Once all of the skin discsweremounted, the receptor fluid
pump was started. Each skin disc was rinsed with a small volume of
water and dried with KimWipe® paper three times.