Stimulation of growth of connective tissue by low-molecular-weight constituents from rapidly growing tissues.

The effect of low-molecular-weight cell constituents from regenerating liver and granulation tissue on the growth of the connective tissue during skin wound healing has been investigated. Repeated injections (intravenous or subcutaneous) of these compounds greatly accelerated the growth of connective tissue by stimulation of both fibroblast proliferation and collagen biogenesis and thus promoted wound healing. These results suggest that the low-molecular-weight cell constituents from dividing cells contain internal factor(s) capable of committing resting cells to D.N.A. synthesis and division or of accelerating D.N.A. synthesis in committed cells.