Effects of protease and elastase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa on skin.

Protease and elastase were inoculated intracutaneously in rabbits, the process of which was followed. Of the enzymes, 50 mug caused circumscribed hemorrhage at the inoculated local and subcutaneous part, and ulcerating lesions of skin and extensive hemorrhagic lesion at the subcutaneous tissues were observed in the case of inoculation with 250 mug. The doses amounting to 500 to 1000 mug of the enzymes caused extensively ulcerating, necrotic lesions at the skin and extensive hemorrhage at the subcutaneous tissue, and a large amount of hemorrhage was observed in the abdomen. It was observed microscopically that cellular infiltration and hemorrhage in the subcutaneous tissue and muscular layer were caused by administration of 2 to 10 mug of the enzymes, and that degeneration of endothelial cells was caused by 2 mug of them.