Polymeric N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (chitin) induces histionic activation in dogs

Analyses on the effects of polymeric N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (chitin), which was obtained from squid pen, on histiogenic activation in dogs were carried out with subcutaneous implants (5 x 5 cm2) of polyester non-woven fabric (NWF) supplemented with chitin (chitin group) and NWF (control group). These materials were implanted at 4 sites, on the lumbodorsal and lumbosacral subcutaneous tissues on both sides of the midline in each dog under general anesthesia. The implants and their surrounding tissues were isolated on post-implantation days (PIDs) 2, 4, 8, and 18 under general anesthesia. In the chitin group, the implant was organized gradually and its organization was completed on PID 18, when obvious angiogenesis toward the NWF was observed. On the other hand, in the control group, obvious angiogenesis toward the NWF was not observed macroscopically. Numbers of mononuclear (MN) and polymorphonuclear (PMN) cells concentrated around the implants on PID 2 were larger in the chitin than control group. In the chitin group, formation of granulating tissue around the implant was indicated on PID 4, whereas such a phenomenon was not observed in the control group. From these results, chitin accelerates the migration of MN and PMN cells to the NWF site with rapid follow-up organization of the NWF accompanied by angiogenesis.