INFLUENCE OF CORTISOL ON WOUND-HEALING OF THE SKIN AND DISTANT CONNECTIVE-TISSUE RESPONSE

Abstract

The effect of moderate dosage cortisol treatment on healing wounds in rats and on the response in skin distant to the wounds was studied. The stress-strain characteristics of a skin wound and intact skin specimens were examined and skin thickness, water content and collagen content were measured. Cortisol treatment caused reduced extensibility and increased stiffness for 10 day wounds but did not change failure energies for 20 day wounds. Reduced failure energies indicated reduced ability to withstand rupturing forces. The mechanical properties of healing wounds under moderate dosage, long term corticosteroid treatment were slightly impaired. A systemic effect of wounding at day 10 caused decreased stiffness and increased collagen content of the skin distant to the wound.