Capillary basement membrane thickening associated with the small intestine of the ketonuric diabetic Chinese hamster.

Morphometric evaluation of intestinal capillary basement membranes demonstrated a significant thickening in those of ketonuric diabetic Chinese hamsters compared to age-matched nondiabetic controls. A highly significant correlation was found between increased capillary basement membrane thickness and progression of ketonuria. Age was also positively related to elevation in capillary basement membrane thickness of control and diabetic hamsters. Capillary basement membrane thickness of diabetic animals was not significantly related to a combination of progredient ketonuria and advance in age.