EFFECTS OF ZINC OXIDE IN AN OCCLUSIVE, ADHESIVE DRESSING ON GRANULATION TISSUE FORMATION.

The role of zinc in an occlusive, adhesive dress- ing (Zn-tape) was investigated in two experiments in the rat. In the first one Zn-tape was compared with a similar tape without zinc components and also with an inert plastic coated fabric with regard to the wound inflamma- tory reaction in excisional wounds. In the second experi- ment we attempted to assess possible systemic effects of zinc absorbed from Zn-tape-treated excisional wounds by studying the granulation tissue formation in subcutane- ously implanted Ivalon sponges. The excisional wounds were treated with either the Zn-tape or a titanium tape in which the zinc oxide was replaced by an equivalent amount of titanium dioxide (Ti-tape). The granulation tis- sue produced was evaluated histologically, histochemical- ly and biochemically. The plain adhesive mass and the Ti- tape elicited an intense inflammatory reaction as indicated both by high activities of alkaline phosphatases and histo- logical examination. The Zn-tape reduced inflammatory processes in the granulation tissue of the excisional wounds. Zinc levels in serum and liver were raised in Zn- tape-treated animals. We conclude that zinc oxide in the Zn-tape affects inflammatory reactions in the granulation tissue of the wounds, possibly through a continuous re- lease of zinc ions and by modifying the adhesive compo- nents of the Zn-tape. There was no evidence of a systemic effect of zinc absorbed from the excisional wounds on the granulation tissue formation in the implanted Ivalon sponges.