A comparison of the healing processes in uremic and parallel-fed rats.

The effect of nutrition on the healing capacity of uremic rats was investigated. Wound tensile strenth and the amount of collagen formation in polyvinyl sponges implanted subcutaneously were compared in a group of uremic rats and a group of nonuremic rats parallel-fed an identical diet and caloric intake. Wound tensile strength in the parafed rats closely and significantly approximated that in the uremic snimals conpared to the stronger wounds in the controls. A correlation was also noted for collagen accumulation in the uremic and parafed groups. This experiment lends further evidence to support the theory that the mechanism of action for the shown poor healing associated with uremia is based on the poor state of nutrition in the uremic animal.