Abstract
The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that platelets stimulate the proliferation of fibroblasts in healing wounds. Rats were made thrombocytopenic with rabbit anti-rat platelet antiserum (APS); 18 hr later 2 × 2-cm square wounds were made, and the rats were killed 72 hr later. The platelet count dropped as low as 0.5% of normal and was maintained during the experimental period to an average 3–5% of normal. The experimental period was not extended further in order to minimize the complications inherent to the use of APS. In two of the anatomic structures affected by the wound (fascia and subcutaneous septa) fibroblastic proliferation was slightly but not significantly reduced; in the third (margins) it was slightly and significantly reduced. This mild inhibition is attributed to side effects of immune thrombocytopenia, which was found to be far more injurious than generally reported in the literature. It is emphasized that the fibroblastic response remained substantial despite the severe thrombocytopenia. Thus no evidence was found that a fibroblast-stimulating platelet factor was active in vivo.
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