Comparison of the chemical composition of glomerular and tubular basement membranes obtained from human kidneys of diabetics and non-diabetics.

Glomerular basement membrane (GBM) and tubular basement membrane (TBM) were prepared from human kidneys of diabetics and non-diabetics, and their chemical composition was compared. GBM from diabetics contained a larger amount of hydroxyproline than that from non-diabetics, and smaller amounts of half-cystine, glucose, mannose and sialic acid. On the other hand, TBM from diabetics contained larger amounts of hydroxylysine, methionine, galactose, hexosamine and phospholipid phosphorus than non-diabetics, and smaller amounts of half-cystine, valine, leucine, lysine and histidine. No significant difference was observed in the contents of other components examined in this study between the corresponding membrane obtained from diabetics and non-diabetics. The observed changes may be due to alteration of the tissues in diabetes mellitus.