POLYMERIC N-ACETYL-D-GLUCOSAMINE (CHITIN) INDUCES HISTIONIC ACTIVATION IN DOGS

Analyses on the effects of polymeric N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (chitin), which was obtained from squid pen, on histiogenic activation in dogs w ere carried out with subcutaneous implants (5 x 5 cm2) of polyester no n-woven fabric (NWF) supplemented with chitin (chitin group) and NWF ( control group). These materials were implanted at 4 sites, on the lumb odorsal and lumbosacral subcutaneous tissues on both sides of the midl ine in each dog under general anesthesia. The implants and their surro unding tissues were isolated on post-implantation days (PIDs) 2, 4, 8, and 18 under general anesthesia. In the chitin group, the implant was organized gradually and its organization was completed on PID 18, whe n obvious angiogenesis toward the NWF was observed. On the other hand, in the control group, obvious angiogenesis toward the NWF was not obs erved macroscopically. Numbers of mononuclear (MN) and polymorphonucle ar (PMN) cells concentrated around the implants on PID 2 were larger i n the chitin than control group. In the chitin group, formation of gra nulating tissue around the implant was indicated on PID 4, whereas suc h a phenomenon was not observed in the control group. From these resul ts, chitin accelerates the migration of MN and PMN cells to the NWF si te with rapid follow-up organization of the NWF accompanied by angioge nesis.