Some Systemic Chemical Responses to Local Inflammation.

Abstract

The concentration of hexosamine, hydroxyproline, and nitrogen in rat skin which had been injured by injection of croton oil was determined chemically. At various periods of time after injury samples of both the injected and control skins of each of 3 animals were excised, cleaned, and analyzed. The results indicate that necrotic tissue hexosamine concentration is four times larger than normal tissue, while the concentration of hydroxyproline is halved. Associated with this reduction in tissue hydroxyproline is an elevation of blood hydroxyproline. These chemical changes at the site of injury are paralleled by smaller, but similar, changes in the chemistry of the uninjured skin.