Microvascular Response to Locally Injected Collagenase: An Experimental Investigation in Hamsters and Rabbits

Abstract

Collagenase was injected into the ears of rabbits and the cheek-pouches of hamsters. The acute and long-term microvascular effects were studied by vital microscopy and microangiography. The enzyme was injected at three different concentrations: 120 units/ml, 600 units/ml and 3,000 units/ml. The medium (600 units/ml) and high (3,000 units/ml) concentrations induced effects on the microcirculation such as blood flow impairment and microbleedings. The magnitude of these effects was related to the concentration of the enzyme. Generally, these microvascular effects were of low magnitude as compared with other substances tested using the same experimental models.

Salvage Palmar Fasciectomy after Initial Treatment with Collagenase Clostridium Histolyticum

“…Despite some experimental evidence that adjacent neurovascular structures remain unaffected by injection of collagenase, 18,20 we observed palmar fasciectomy to be technically more difficult in patients who previously received collagenase injections. Collagenase injections can cause local obliteration of the tissue planes, disrupting the normal architecture of the palm and rendering surgical fasciectomy more challenging.…”

Reversibility of experimental rabbit liver cirrhosis by portal collagenase administration

“…Early studies suggested that this collagenase can be used locally or systemically, 27,28 and there was no evidence of systemic side effects, neural or vascular damage, or skin injury. [27][28][29][30] An early study showed that in 44 patients receiving intrapenile injections of collagenase for treatment of Peyronie's disease, only one had detectable collagenase-specific IgE antibody in serum, and the author concluded that anaphylactic reaction to collagenase would be unlikely. 31 In this report, consistent with previous findings, no evidence was found for functional injury of liver or kidney, and no histological damage of heart, lung, liver, kidney, or brain was observed.…”

Locally-applied Collagenase and Regeneration of Transsected and Repaired Rat Sciatic Nerves

“…The permeability of the microvascular bed and the perineurial barrier was unchanged (16). The microvascular effects of clinically recommended concentrations of collagenase were generally moderate when tested in cheek pouches of hamsters or injected into rabbits' ears (17). In contrast, the effects of collagenase on central nervous tissue are more severe.…”