A comparison of the effects of temperature on wound healing in a tropical and a temperate teleost

The rate of healing of a surgical wound was studied in two teleost fish, one with a tropical, and the other with a temperate temperature range. Comparisons were made of both the rate and qualitative nature of wound healing within and between species at temperatures of 30,23,10 and 5° C. The rate of wound healing was found to be proportional to temperature and temperature stress had little effect on healing rates. The findings were related to reported rates of wound healing in man. In general the wounds studied healed at a rate comparable to those reported for the healing of superficial skin wounds in man and other mammals despite the fact that the fish wounds were not merely superficial but involved integument and muscle.