Abstract
Summary
The effect of cortisone administration upon the hexosamine-collagen ratio (H/C) of several tissues was investigated. The H/C of skin, sternum, trachea, lung, aorta and vena cava was significantly reduced when a 20% loss in weight was induced by cortisone. When injections were discontinued and the original weight was regained, H/C of sternum and vena cava returned to starting level. This was nearly true of lung and aorta. Skin lagged behind considerably in this respect. Multiple biopsies were taken from skin following cortisone administration and withdrawal. When depression of H/C was greatest, recovery lagged the most. The findings are pertinent to the question of the general nature of cortisone effect upon connective tissue and the reversibility of this effect.
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