Abstract
Summary
1. Dimethylsulfoxide swells collagen in the dermis and decreases the tensile strength of both normal and full-thickness burned dog skin, especially the latter. These effects are more pronounced with 100% than with 50% DMSO.
2. The digestion of burned dog skin in vitro by elastase, collagenase, and protease is increased by pretreatment for 24 hr with 100% DMSO.
3. Pretreatment for 24 hr with 100% DMSO not only increases the degree of digestion of partially denatured beef tendon collagen by enzymes, but also partially converts it to a form soluble in water and Tris buffer at pH 7.2.
4. DMSO appears to be a denaturant of collagen, more active against burned and partially denatured collagen than against sclerocollagen.
5. A continuous application of DMSO at 90%–100% concentrations for at least 24 hr might render full-thickness burn eschar more readily removed by solutes and might increase its susceptibility to enzymatic digestion.
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