Influence of streptozotocin and alloxan induced diabetes on the metabolism of dermal collagen in albino rats.

The metabolism of collagen in male rats made diabetic by treatment with either streptozotocin or alloxan was studied after the injection of 3H-proline by estimating specific and total 3H-hydroxyproline activity in skin collagen fractions and urine. Experimentally induced diabetes was found to decrease the neutral salt-soluble and acid-soluble collagen with no change in insoluble collagen as compared to a control group. The specific and total radioactivity of 3H-hydroxyproline in soluble and insoluble collagen fractions were also decreased. Studies of total 3H-hydroxyproline activities in soluble collagens and insoluble collagen showed that the conversion of soluble to insoluble collagen was influenced by diabetes. Both streptozotocin and alloxan were found to increase urinary excretion of total hydroxyproline and 3H-hydroxyproline during the first 12 h after the administration of 3H-proline. Weekly analyses of urinary hydroxyproline also indicated a similar pattern. The results of the present investigation clearly indicate decreased synthesis and increased catabolism of collagen accompanied by accelerated conversion of soluble to insoluble collagen in experimentally induced diabetes.