Influence of Beta-Aminopropionitrile upon Development of Connective Tissue in Croton Oil Pouches

Abstract

Pouches from control and test rats fed BAPN were removed after 6, 12, and 18 days. Extraneous material such as collections of leukocytes, fibrin, and areas of hemorrhage were removed before the pouches were extracted in 4% perchloric acid, ethanol, and ether. Grossly the test pouches were poorly formed, and microscopically they showed decrease in fibroblastic maturation and collagenic fiber formation with relative increase in homogeneous eosinophilic Schiff positive material. Fat free protein residue was analyzed for hexosamine and hydroxypyroline concentration. More nitrogenous material was consistently obtained from test pouches during perchloric acid extraction. Hexosamine concentration in different pouches varied from 0.82 to 1.17% of day fat free protein. Significant alterations with age or variations from control values were not seen. In control pouches the hydroxyproline concentration gradually increased to approximately 4% in 18 days. Hydroxyproline concentrations in the test pouches were significantly less than in controls of corresponding age.