The effect of complete Freund--adjuvant on chronic proliferating inflammation in an experimental granuloma model

Histometric, biochemical, radiochemical and autoradiographic studies were undertaken to investigate the influence of complete Freund-adjuvant (CFA) on a defined chronic proliferating inflammation of a granuloma model in two different experimental situations. Where as the percentage fraction of the fibroblasts, 3H-thymidine marking index of the fibroblasts and the impulse rate of the fibroblasts and endothelial cells do not differ from the values found for the control animals, both the protein and DNA content of the implanted sponges, as well as the DNA content of the individual fibroblasts in the implants increased, independent of the stage of the chronic proliferating inflammation at which the CFA was administered. Surprisingly the quantity of the fibroblast specific synthetic product, collagen, did not increase in proportion to the absolute number of fibroblasts, but remained either constant or even significantly decreased. A possible inhibition of collagen synthesis after CFA administration during chronic proliferating inflammation is discussed.