The comparative toxic effects of proprietary antidandruff, adult and baby shampoos on rabbit ileum.

Each of four antidandruff shampoos, containing zinc pyrithione, was statistically significantly more potent at blocking spontaneous contractions of rabbit isolated ileum than was any of four adult shampoos which in turn were each significantly more potent that any of four baby shampoos tested. The ileum model therefore appears to be sufficiently sensitive to distinguish between antidandruff, adult and baby shampoos. It is suggested that if those who carry out in vivo eye irritancy testing also test their products on the ileum model then, over a period of time, this in vitro test might be proved to be a viable alternative to many of the in vivo tests currently carried out.