Talc injury: changes in glucosamine and leucine incorporation into liver and plasma proteins

Injury was induced in mice by sterile subcutaneous injection of talc. The host response to this injury was studied by measuring the incorporation of radioactive leucine and glucosamine into liver and plasma proteins, and the talc granuloma at various intervals between 2 and 528 hr following talc injection. Incorporation into liver proteins showed a marked transient increase at 21–45 hr following injury. Incorporation into plasma proteins indicated a biphasic response: a marked increase incorporation into the PCA-insoluble fraction at 21 hr with a return to normal values at 45 hr, and a similar marked increase into the PCA-soluble fraction at 45 hr with a gradual return towards normal values. This response was dependent upon the amount of talc injected. A biphasic pattern of incorporation was observed in the talc granuloma also, but this may have been related to the local healing processes.