[Influence of exogenous collagen on the metabolism of skin wounds in rats].

Skin wounds of rats were treated by 14C-labeled collagen from guinea pig skin. The main portion of the applied collagen persisted in the wound area. In the neutral salt soluble collagen maximal specific activity was measured on day 4 after treatment, in the citric acid soluble and in the insoluble collagen at later times. On day 4 after treatment 3.42% of the applied label was found in the neutral salt soluble, 1.43% in the citric acid soluble and 1.40% in the insoluble collagen. The findings suggest that the stimulation of wound healing which is reported by various authors is caused by the incorporation of the applied collagen into the regenerating connective tissue.