Department of Anatomy and Surgery, University of São Paulo Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
Urology. 2011 Feb;77(2):510.e6-11. doi: 10.1016/j.urology.2010.09.033. Epub 2010 Dec 13.
To evaluate the histological alterations of extracellular matrix in long-term alloxan-induced diabetes and aging urethras of male rats with descriptions of total connective tissue, muscle layer and collagen types I and III relative amounts.
Histologic evaluations were performed in 3 animal groups: group 1, 8 weeks old; group 2, 44 weeks old; and group 3, 44 weeks old with alloxan-induced diabetes. The muscle layer thickness, extracellular matrix fibrosis, and collagen were quantified on digital images of the urethral samples.
A higher total thickness and muscle layer thickness and higher connective tissue and collagen content were observed in the urethras of group 3. No changes in the collagen type III/I ratio were found in the urethra of groups 2 and 3.
Our results suggest that the morphologic alterations of the urethra should also be considered in long-term studies of diabetic lower urinary tract dysfunction. These morphologic alterations due to diabetes differ from the changes induced by aging itself and could represent a final stage in decompensate urethras. Further studies are necessary to establish the real influence of the urethral morphologic changes on lower urinary tract diabetes dysfunction.
评估长期链脲佐菌素诱导的糖尿病和老年雄性大鼠尿道中外细胞外基质的组织学改变，并描述总结缔组织、肌肉层和胶原 I 和 III 型的相对含量。
在 3 组动物中进行组织学评估：第 1 组，8 周龄；第 2 组，44 周龄；第 3 组，44 周龄并伴有链脲佐菌素诱导的糖尿病。对尿道样本的数字图像进行肌肉层厚度、细胞外基质纤维化和胶原蛋白的定量分析。
第 3 组尿道的总厚度和肌肉层厚度较高，结缔组织和胶原蛋白含量也较高。第 2 组和第 3 组尿道的胶原 III/I 比值无变化。
我们的结果表明，在糖尿病下尿路功能障碍的长期研究中，还应考虑尿道的形态改变。这些由于糖尿病引起的形态改变与衰老本身引起的变化不同，可能代表了代偿失调尿道的终末阶段。需要进一步的研究来确定尿道形态变化对下尿路糖尿病功能障碍的真正影响。
