URINARY EXCRETION OF ASCORBIC ACID BY GUINEA PIGS WITH HEALING SKIN WOUNDS

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Abstract
A study was made with guinea pigs to determine if ascorbic is used up in healing of skin wounds. Incisions 10 cm. long were made down the centers of the backs of adult animals and the cut edges were fastened together with skin clips. Daily intraperit injns, of the same amts. of ascorbic acid were continued through a 9-day pre-wounding period, through the 9-to 11-day period of active healing and for 7-9 days following closure of the wounds. Daily detns. of the ascorbic acid excreted in the urine were made by both the osazone and indophenol titration methods. In each of 2 tests conducted with 8 animals each, a depression in the urinary excretion of ascorbic acid occurred during the period of most active healing by both methods of assay following which there was a return to the pre-wounding values. The greatest depression occurred from the 2d to the 6th days. The difference between the output of a 4-consecutive-day period at the time of lowest excretion with a comparable pre-wounding period was 25 and 23%, respectively, in the 2 expts. The period of greatest metabolism of ascorbic acid preceded slightly the known period of most active fiber formation, hence it appears to parallel somewhat more closely the known period of max, connective tissue cell activity.