The initiation of epidermal wound healing in cuts and burns.
An apparatus to produce shallow linear burns is described. The burns contained about the same amount of damaged tissue as a shallow cut. The initiation of healing in cuts and burns on guinea-pig ears was studied using an 3H-thymidine and autoradiographic technique to determine the number of cells in DNA synthesis in epidermis adjacent to the wound. Cuts caused epidermal cells to enter DNA synthesis rapidly; the maximum response was 1 day after injury. Thus response was delayed in burns and the maximum was not seen until at least 3 days after burning. Extracts of normal skin stimulated epidermal DNA synthesis, whereas extracts of burned skin did not. Possible mechanisms affecting the delay in the healing of burns are discussed.
D000818:Animals; D002056:Burns / Q000473:pathology*; D002452:Cell Count; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004817:Epidermis / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology; D014945:Wound Healing
D004247:DNA