Biochemical evidence of flexor tendon participation in the repair process--an in vitro study.

Rabbit, dog, chicken and monkey flexor tendon explants were maintained for six weeks in vitro in organ culture media. Biochemical evidence of the intrinsic capacity of the explants to participate in the repair process is noted by an increase in DNA (i.e. cell number) and hydroxyproline (i.e. collagen content) of the cultured explants after six weeks on culture compared to the control specimens, as well as the incorporation of 3H Proline into the collagen molecule.