Effect of Stress upon the Healing of Wounds in Rats.

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Abstract
It was shown previously that cortisone and ACTH in adequate dosages result in depression of the healing rates. A study was made to determine whether non-specific chronic stress would likewise result in impairment of healing, due to acceleration of the rate of endogenous adrenal cortical secretion. It was found that severe stress, such as multiple fractures, skin excision, extensive burn, refrigeration and epinephrine injns., all resulted in depression of the bursting pressure of 5th day laparotomy wounds. In each case there was a significant increase in the fresh wt. of the adrenal glands at autopsy. The duration of this stress-induced inhibition of healing varied with the nature and the magnitude of the stress.