Fig. 4.

Corticosterone (B) and 5α-tetrahydrocoticosterone (5αTHB) had limited but similar effects on a variety of gene transcripts in mouse ears in a model of croton oil (CO)-induce irritant dermatitis after 24 h. Real-time PCR analysis of transcripts for (a) inflammatory, (b) vascular and (c) extra-cellular matrix (ECM) genes in control ears (CTRL) or ears treated for 24 h with either CO alone or together with B 5 μg or 5αTHB 25 μg. Data (mean ± SEM) were analysed with one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s post hoc test; n = 10/group; p ⩽ 0.05, # = vs CO, ∼ = vs CTRL, £ = B vs 5αTHB.