Changes in the serum protein levels during wound tissue regeneration.

The effect of woundingand formation of regenerating wound tissueon the level of the serum proteins was studied in rats on a protein-free diet. It was found that the level of the globulin component having the third greatest electrophoretic mobility, probablypart of the a,-globulin fraction, roseabout 60% within 3 days after wounding and did not begin to return to normal until about 10 days later. Concomitantly, the level of the globulin with least mobility, presumably the y-globulin component, decreased about 35% and also began to return to normal within 2 weeks after wounding. Varying the rate of healing, by the addition of protein or methionine to the diet, had no effect on the changes in the serum globulin levels. The newly formed aglobulins were shown to be distinct from fetuin.