Studies on the Survival of Skin Homografts in Rabbits Treated with Alloxan

ABSTRACT

In order to evaluate relationships between survival time of skin homografts and blood glucose levels a total of 187 viable homografts performed on 41 rabbits was observed Five group experiments were undertaken, namely normal, alloxan diabetic, insulin hypoglycemic, treated diabetic, and sugar-fed groups. In the diabetic group alloxan was given intravenously (40 mg/kg, 80 mg/kg and 129 mg/kg to 3 sub-groups respectively) and varied degrees of permanent diabetic states were confirmed. The survival of skin homografts in diabetic animals is strikingly prolonged (mean survivals of 11, 13, and 18 days respectively in groups receiving 40, 80, and 120mg/kg alloxan) compared with 7days for the control grafts. The degree of hyperglycemia was proportional to the amount of alloxan given and, likewise, the survival time of skin homografts was in general proportional to the blood glucose level.