[Investigations on the morphology and biochemistry of wound healing after injury of the liver (author's transl)].

The early phase of wound repair after liver incisions was investigated by histological, enzyme-histochemical, and biochemical methods in guinea pigs. There are considerable differences in cellular and histochemical reactions in comparison to incisions of the skin: 1. The rapid leukocytic reaction showed little change during the observation interval (48 h). In short survival times epithelial cells show signs of hypoxidosis and loss of glycogen at the edge of an incision. Proliferation of organ-specific and mesenchymal cells was observed after more than 24 h. 2. Alterations of the investigated enzymes in the traumatic area are important diagnostic parameters in the early stages of wound healing. 3. In the early 12 h after injury distinct increase of histamine was observed, while serotonin was noticed to decrease. 4. Therefore, the determination of wound age in the early wound reactions after injuries of the liver should include enzymehistochemical methods.