Wound Healing: Investigation of Proteins, Glycoproteins, and Lipids of Experimental Wound Fluid in the Dog

Abstract

Surgical implants of stainless steel mesh cylinders were made into subcutaneous tissue of dog's back. These were removed at intervals of 1 to 4 weeks. Wound fluid was aspirated from inside these cylinders encapsulated with fibrous tissue. When compared with animal's serum, this fluid was lower in protein, glycoprotein, and lipid; and these components decreased with time during post-wound period. As studied by paper electrophoresis, wound fluid had a higher per cent of albumin and lower alpha-2 and beta-1 globulin. An elevation of protein-bound hexose was found in beta and gamma globulin fractions at 3 to 4 weeks. Seromucoid was present at same level in wound fluid and serum. The lipid partition revealed especially low phosphatides but similar cholesterol:protein ratios. It appears that time-related changes occur in large molecular constituents of fluid found in wound area which may be significant in wound healing phenomenon.