Impairment of granulation tissue formation after menopause.

Formation of connective tissue is an essential step in the process of wound healing. After menopause an atrophy of connective tissues in skin, bone, and reproductive organs takes place. Using a dead-space wound healing model we measured collagen synthesis and deposition, and cell replication in the granulation tissue of 18 premenopausal and 23 peri- and postmenopausal women not receiving any hormonal therapy. In the postmenopausal group collagen synthesis and deposition and cell number in the granulation tissue were diminished. These results document the impairment of the granulation tissue formation after menopause.