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SUMMARY A one–stage retroperitoneal method of producing acute transient experimental uræia is described. After defects in the peritoneum have been fashioned, the uræmic state delays the formation of new peritoneum and depresses the production of collagen. It would be advisable to include uræmia amongst other general factors when future studies of wound disruption are contemplated. The majority of this work was performed in the Surgical Unit Laboratories, Westminster Hospital. We would like to thank Professor D. Slome for providing additional facilities at the Department of Physiology, Royal College of Surgeons. We are grateful to Dr Klaus Lewin for assistance with the histology and photographs.

Summary One hundred and seventeen patients with cerebral glioma (Kernohan grades III and IV) were treated with adjuvant chemotherapy using procarbazine (PCB), CCNU and vincristine (VCR) following whole head irradiation. Cell cultures were prepared from 40 patients in this series and their sensitivity to each cytotoxic drug was assessed in a mictotitration assay with 35 S-methionine incorporation as the end point. Twenty-two of forty (55%) patients responded to PCB and/or CCNU in vitro, and sensitivity to these drugs was linked with increased RFI, whilst sensitivity to VCR was not. The RFI of patients who had responded to PCB or CCNU in vitro was significantly longer than the RFI of patients whose tumours failed to respond in vitro or patients who had not been tested. There was no difference in sex ratio, extent of operation, radiation dose and degree of steroid cover between responders, non-responders and untested groups. Grade III tumours tended to be more sensitive in vitro than grade IV tumours. The age of patients also influenced in vitro chemosensitivity. Patients with chemosensitive tumours in vitro tended to be younger than patients with insensitive tumours in vitro. Further statistical analysis, taking into account these prognostic factors, indicated an association between chemosensitivity in vitro and RFI.

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1. Adult rats were maintained on a protein-deficient diet for 6 weeks following which laparotomy was performed and peritoneal wounds of standard size were constructed,2. The diet resulted in a progressive weight loss and a fall in plasma protein. Tissue protein, expressed as percentage protein in dried voluntary muscle, did not fall significantly.3. Following laparotomy the rats were killed in groups on successive days and the peritoneal wounds were removed for measurement of area and for histological examination.4. There was no apparent difference between control and protein-deficient animals in the rate or extent of peritoneal wound contraction although there was histological evidence of delay of collagen formation in the protein-deficient animals. This supports the theory that collagen formation is not a function of wound contraction.