Effect of Lysosomal Labilizers and Pro-Inflammatory Substances on Connective Tissue Repair as Measured by Tensile Strength

Many types of substances have been shown to influence wound healing. These include anti-inflammatory compounds, histamine depletors, nutritional additives, thyroxin, DL-penicillamine, zinc sulfate, deuterium oxide, cartilage powder, etc. (1-11). Few of these substances accelerate wound healing; most inhibit. Prudden et al. (12,13) have shown that the local application of bovine cartilage powder moderately increases wound tensile strength (WTS) on days 7 and 11 after wounding. This effect appears to be relatively specific, as other substances which promote growth of granulation tissue (e.g., talcum powder) do not accelerate healing and carrageenin actually reduces WTS (14). The increased strength of cartilage-treated wounds appears to be effected by some mechanism other than the laying down of increased numbers of collagen fibers (15) or by the sulfhydryl content of the cartilage (16).

The wound healing process is conveniently divided into (a) substrate phase (1-5 days); (b) collagen phase (5-15 days) and (c) maturation of scar phase (15 days) (17). The substrate phase is characterized by an acute inflammatory process whereas the collagen phase is associated with an increased tensile strength. The increased WTS is dependent upon bath the mount and quality of collagen laid down (18,19).

Glumrticoids have been reported to inhibit 1410th the inflammatory prrocess and wound healing (20) Since a lysomnal mechanism may be involved in both of these processes, it was of interest to evaluate the influence on wound haling of subsrtances which affect biological membranes. It was also of interest to determine if substances which augment the inflammratory reaction would like wise accelerate wound healing.