Experimental Animal Studies with Griseofulvin

Abstract

Controlled studies by Gentles 1 using guinea pigs infected with Microsporum canis which he subsequently treated with griseofulvin, was the first successful venture in the systemic management of superficial mycoses. He reported that the beneficial effect of griseofulvin treatment was evident after four days of treatment and after eight days the infection had been almost completely eradicated. He also stated that guinea pigs with experimentally induced Trichophyton mentagrophytes infections responded in a similar manner. In a later report, 2 he postulated that griseofulvin was deposited in the hair follicles and became incorporated into the newly formed keratin of the hair shafts as well as the keratin layer of the epidermis. Robinson et al., 3 utilizing the spectrophotometric assay method of Ashton and Brown, 4 performed in vitro and in vivo studies to determine the concentration of griseofulvin in the blood and urine; concentrations were very low when considered in relation