TY - JOUR
T1 - Thymic inhibition of wound healing
T2 - Abrogation by adult thymectomy
AU - Barbul, Adrian
AU - Sisto, Donato
AU - Rettura, Giuseppe
AU - Levenson, Stanley M.
AU - Seifter, Eli
AU - Efron, Gershon
PY - 1982/4
Y1 - 1982/4
N2 - It has been previously observed that the thymus and wound respond in a similar manner, i.e., agents that enhance thymic function increase wound healing, while factors which decrease thymic function impair healing. In order to elucidate if the thymus has a direct influence on wounds, we have studied wound healing in adult rats who have undergone thymectomy at 4-8 weeks of age. In three separate experiments we found that thymectomized rats had fresh wound breaking strengths significantly greater than sham-thymectomized rats. There were no differences noted in the amount of reparative collagen accumulated in subcutaneously implanted polyvinyl alcohol sponges or in the breaking strength of wound strips fixed in 10% formalin, which maximally cross-links the collagen present; the ratios of fixed to fresh wound breaking strengths were significantly greater in sham-thymectomized rats. Rats who had undergone thymectomy with immediate intraperitoneal placement of Millipore chambers containing autologous thymic fragments had wound breaking strengths similar to sham-thymectomized or intact animals. We conclude that thymectomy at 4-8 weeks of age increases wound maturation and collagen cross-linking. This suggests that the thymus normally has an inhibitory effect on wound healing and a role of T-suppressor cells on this process is postulated.
AB - It has been previously observed that the thymus and wound respond in a similar manner, i.e., agents that enhance thymic function increase wound healing, while factors which decrease thymic function impair healing. In order to elucidate if the thymus has a direct influence on wounds, we have studied wound healing in adult rats who have undergone thymectomy at 4-8 weeks of age. In three separate experiments we found that thymectomized rats had fresh wound breaking strengths significantly greater than sham-thymectomized rats. There were no differences noted in the amount of reparative collagen accumulated in subcutaneously implanted polyvinyl alcohol sponges or in the breaking strength of wound strips fixed in 10% formalin, which maximally cross-links the collagen present; the ratios of fixed to fresh wound breaking strengths were significantly greater in sham-thymectomized rats. Rats who had undergone thymectomy with immediate intraperitoneal placement of Millipore chambers containing autologous thymic fragments had wound breaking strengths similar to sham-thymectomized or intact animals. We conclude that thymectomy at 4-8 weeks of age increases wound maturation and collagen cross-linking. This suggests that the thymus normally has an inhibitory effect on wound healing and a role of T-suppressor cells on this process is postulated.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0020027670&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0020027670&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/0022-4804(82)90110-X
DO - 10.1016/0022-4804(82)90110-X
M3 - Article
C2 - 7070082
AN - SCOPUS:0020027670
SN - 0022-4804
VL - 32
SP - 338
EP - 342
JO - Journal of Surgical Research
JF - Journal of Surgical Research
IS - 4
ER -