The effects of systemic zinc supplements on the strength of healing incised wounds in normal rats

Abstract

The effect of the systemic administration of zinc sulphate (4.5 mg. Zn per day) to rats on a normal dietary intake of zinc was studied with reference to the tensile strengths of healing skin and musculofascial wounds. In comparing control and zinc-treated groups, no significant differences in the tensile strengths of 4-day, 7-day, or 10-day wounds were demonstrated. A new method of testing the strength of anterior abdominal wall wounds by measuring increasing intra-abdominal pressure up to bursting point is described. Sutured incised wounds of the linea alba were of identical strength in control and zinc-treated animals after 4, 7, and 10 days. No toxic effects were observed with the dosage of zinc used. It is concluded that the administration of supplementary zinc has no effect on the healing of sutured, incised wounds in normal rats.