Local traumatization with heat--cutaneous reactions and early effects on serum zinc concentration in rats with alloxan diabetes of very short duration.

Local heat trauma was induced in rats with alloxan diabetes of 3 days' duration. The cutaneous reaction, water content of the skin and serum zinc concentration were estimated. Petechiae within the area of traumatization were observed more often and were more abundant in the controls than in the diabetic animals. There was no difference between diabetic animals and controls with regard to the increase of water content of traumatized skin or to the water content of non-traumatized skin. There was no difference in serum zinc levels between non-traumatized diabetic animals and controls. After traumatization there was a decrease of serum zinc levels in both animal groups, but to a significantly lower level in the diabetic animals compared to the controls.