Microspectrophotometric study of the lipid content in regenerating connective tissue

An experimental quantitative histological investigation was performed to study lipids in cellular elements of the regenerated connective tissue. Flap wounds were cut on the back of white mice and granulation tissue dissected 1, 3, 7, 14 30 and 60 days after the operation was investigated. Lipids and cellular elements were revealed with Sudan III-IV black B and Nile blue. Lipid quantity was estimated by means of a modified scanning integrating microphotometer. The greatest amount of lipids in the cellular elements of the granulation tissue was revealed on the 3d day of the experiment, total optic density (TOD) of lipids in leucocytes was 0.83, TOD in histiocytes--0.6. On the 7th day the amount of lipids decreased, their TOD in leucocytes was 0.6, in histiocytes--0.4. By the 14th day only phospholipids were revealed, in histiocytes their TOD was 0.3. In subsequent days phospholipid contents continued decreasing and by the 30th day their TOD was 0.2. By the 60th day, when a scar was formed in the wound, in fact, there were no lipids in the cellular elements. The microphotometric investigation performed demonstrated qualitative and quantitative characteristics of lipids in the cellular elements of the granulation tissue in dynamics and their close dependence on the time of wound healing. It was also revealed that the regenerative process was accompanied by decreasing lipid amount in the cellular elements, and this phenomenon could be used as a peculiar test to prognosticate the process of wound healing.