Effect of some alcohols on in vivo and in vitro aged collagen.

1. The effects of mixtures of ethanol or n-propanol with 0.15 M NaCl or 0.1 N HCl on the isometric melting and load/extension behaviour of rat tail tendon were examined. 2. Both intra and intermolecular effects were observed but aging of the sample had little effect upon these. 3. The extension modulus in 0.15 M NaCl begins to decrease rapidly at temperatures above the molecular melting temperature (TD). This reduction in modulus is accelerated by alcohol, although the alcohol is not effective below TD.