Comparison of the effects of methylprednisolone and hydrocortisone on granulation tissue development. An experimental...

The effects of systemically administered methylprednisolone and hydrocortisone on granulation tissue development were compared using viscose cellulose sponges as wound model in the rat. The ingrown new tissue was analysed for the contents of various connective tissue components. The body weight gain of the animals was affected in both of the corticosteroid-treated groups. Hydrocortisone treatment decreased the contents of collagen, DNA and RNA and inhibited the development of vascularity especially in the initial phase of granulation tissue development. Methylprednisolone treatment decreased the content of collagen throughout the observation time of 3 weeks. It also decreased the content of RNA initially but the content of DNA and the development of vascularity were not affected until after 2 weeks' treatment. These results indicate that both of these corticosteroids affect the cells migrating into the sponge implant in the initial inflammatory phase, hydrocortisone more the number and methylprednisolone more the function of the cells.