Dermatosis in magnesium-deficient hairless rats: effects of steroidal and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Dermatosis in magnesium-deficient hairless rats has been described as a reproducible model of skin inflammation. It was therefore felt of interest to search for the effects of various anti-inflammatory compounds on this model. Results showed that 1) Dexamethasone acetate completely abolished the rash, 2) Indomethacin, a Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID), inhibitor of the cyclooxygenase pathway was quite inactive, 3) Benoxaprofen, a NSAID inhibitor of both cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways only slightly modified the development of the pathology. Activity of steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on this model may be related to their immunosuppressive effects.