[Method of studying collagen metabolism in human skin]

Rate of collagen biosynthesis was evaluated by monitoring total radioactivity of 14C-proline in soluble and unsoluble collagen. The rate of collagen maturation was estimated by following radioactivity of 14C-hydroxyproline in unsoluble fraction of collagen. Correlation between the concentration of collagen in skin and the rate of its biosynthesis enabled to determine the rate of collagen degradation. The modified method differed from the original one in the procedure for estimation of total and radioactive hydroxyproline, in technique for extraction of collagen fractions, soluble in 0.45 M NaCl, in composition of experimental samples. Some reagents were substituted for more easily available analogues. The modified method, as compared with original one, was more informative, simple and less expensive, but maintained the good reproducibility and sensitiivity of the original method.