Increased collagenolytic activity in severed and sutured tendons following topical application of exogenous collagen in chickens.

To verify the role of collagenase in reduction of peritendinous adhesion by topical application of exogenous collagen, the flexor tendons of 30 chickens were severed and sutured. Exogenous, native enriched collagen solution (ECS) was introduced in the tendon sheath via a polyethylene catheter. The effect of ECS on collagenolytic activity in the healing tendon was assessed 1, 2, and 3 weeks later both by determining the relative amounts of dialyzable protein and hydroxyproline and by using the collagen film collagenase assay. The results obtained indicated a significant increase in both dialyzable hydroxyproline level and collagenolytic activity in the ECS-treated tendons as compared with the untreated controls. It is suggested that the effect of the topically applied exogenous collagen on increasing the collagenolytic activity may be directly related to previously observed increased gliding capacity of the tendons in the same experimental model.