The complement and level of expression of P450 enzymes in male Fischer F344 rat whole skin and cultured keratinocytes were investigated using a panel of mono-specific antibodies. In whole skin microsomal fraction, immunoreactive bands corresponding to CYP2B12, CYP2C13, CYP2D1, CYP2D4, CYP2E1, CYP3A1, and CYP3A2 were detected whereas CYP1A1, CYP1A2, and CYP2C12 were absent. Skin levels were all between 0.1% and 4.7% of those found in liver, except for CYP2D4, which was not detected in liver. Keratinocytes were isolated from rat skin, cultured for up to 42 days, and changes in the levels of CYP3A1, CYP3A2, and CYP2E1 determined. Levels were low in isolated keratinocytes, but they increased markedly in culture, reaching a maximum at 10-14 days, where they were similar to those found in fresh skin. This suggests that primary keratinocytes grown in culture for 10-14 days may provide a useful experimental model to study P450-catalysed metabolism of xenobiotics in skin. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.