ROLE OF ASCORBIC ACID IN WOUND HEALING INFLUENCED BY D,L-THYROXINE

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate whether the retarding influence of thyroxine upon wound healing in the guinea-pig was due to its antagonism to ascorbic acid. Since in ascorbic animals thyroxine had no effect on the tensile strength of the wounds and since the dose-response curve of thyroxine was not altered, even by a large extra supplement of ascorbic acid, it was concluded that a direct thyroxine-ascorbic acid antagonism was excluded. It was postulated that ascorbic acid and thyroxine influenced different phases of fibrillogenesis. Ascorbic acid is a necessary and moderating factor in this process, whereas thyroxine acts by inhibiting another - also moderating - factor, not identical with ascorbic acid.