Production of ultraviolet-light-induced skin erythema in the hairless rat: a comparison with the haired rat in screening for anti-inflammatory drugs.

The onset of this erythema in response to different times of exposure corresponds closely to that in the haired animal. Orally administered phenylbutazone (30 mg/kg) or subcutaneously administered fluocinolone acetonide (10 mg/kg) have an equivalent antierythemic effect on haired and hairless animals. The hairless rat may therefore be an attractive alternative to its haired counterpart in this model since, prior to irradiation, it requires no depilation--which itself may affect subsequent erythema production.