THE RESORPTION OF SODIUM DILANTIN-PRODUCED DERMAL COLLAGEN*

Abstract

The dermal collagen produced by 4 doses of Dilantin was resorbed within a week after the conclusion of drug administration. After 10 doses, however, dermal collagen was stable for at least 2 weeks. Collagen resorption was associated with a profound decrease in insoluble collagen and ground-substance concentrations and a marked increase in the citrate-soluble collagen hexosamine content of the skin. The increased scleroprotein content of rat skin during administration of the drug was essentially maintained for at least 2 weeks despite the loss in insoluble collagen that occurred during this period after 4 doses of drug. After 10 doses, the scleroprotein content of rat skin decreased within 3 days to about one 5th of that found during drug administration, despite the continued high levels of insoluble dermal collagen. The ground-substance and citrate-soluble hexosamine and collagen content of skin from animals which demonstrated no loss in Dilantin-produced (10 doses) collagen returned to normal shortly after termination of drug administration.