[An observation of the morphology and the degradation of hypertrophic scar collagen].

OBJECTIVE

To explore the role of collagen degradation and scar morphology and structure in the formation of hypertrophic scar.

METHODS

SDS-PAGE (sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) plus collagen substrate electrophoresis, amino acid analysis and compound staining were employed to observe the collagenase activity within hypertrophic scar, collagen degradation and the tissue morphology of the scar.

RESULTS

There exhibited deranged collagen fibres within hypertrophic scar, and large amounts of acid mucopolysaccharide closely surrounded the collagen fibres. All these led to an obvious decrease in collagenase activity and reduction of collagen degradation.

CONCLUSION

The decrease of collagen degradation and the formation of hypertrophic scar might be closely related to the decrease in collagenase activity and the inhibiting activity of acid mucopolysaccharide on collagenase.