Exogenous non-crosslinked collagen enhances granulation tissue formation in dermal excision wounds in guinea pigs

Based on previous observations indicating a role for collagen peptides in e liciting a positive feedback for collagen biosynthesis, this study was init iated to elucidate the effect of non-crosslinked collagen on granulation ti ssue formation in dermal excision wounds. The wounds were treated with eith er non-crosslinked or crosslinked native collagen, or left untreated as con trols. Granulation tissue was analyzed for collagen type I mKNA, for levels of interstitial collagen and for the number of blood vessels. The results indicated significant increases in procollagen type I mRNA, in interstitial collagen, in the number of blood vessels and in epithelial advance in the non-crosslinked collagen-treated wounds relative to the untreated controls. It is assumed that the presence of non-crosslinked collagen in a healing w ound enhances both procollagen type I biosynthesis and the repair process o f dermal wounds, due to the more readily released collagen peptides derived from this exogenous collagen dressing.