Inhibition of increased synthesis of glomerular basement membrane collagen in diabetic rats in vivo.

Diabetic rats were treated intraperitoneally for 2 week with(+)-catechin in two different dosages or calcium dobesilate and the influence of these substances on protein and basement membrane collagen synthesis was investigated. Both drugs did not alter the diabetic metabolic situation. At the lower dose, (+)-catechin led to a slight decreased and at the higher dose to a small increase of basement membrane collagen synthesis. But compared to untreated controls these differences were statistically not significant. Calcium dobesilate inhibited markedly the raised basement membrane collagen synthesis. However, this effect does not appear to be specific, since the raised general protein synthesis was also reduced. These findings show that the disturbed basement membrane metabolism in diabetes can be influenced without altering the metabolic situation.