Influence of calcium dobesilate on the raised synthesis of basement membrane collagen in diabetic rats.

Diabetic rats were treated i.p. for 1 week with calcium dobesilate (200 mg/kg body wt.) and the influence of this substance on protein and basement membrane collagen synthesis of isolated glomeruli was investigated. Calcium dobesilate did not lead to an alteration of the diabetic metabolic situation. Compared to the non-diabetic rats, raised basement membrane collagen synthesis of diabetic rats was markedly inhibited by calcium dobesilate. However, this effect does not appear to be specific, since the raised general protein synthesis was also reduced. The findings show that the disturbed basement membrane metabolism in diabetes can be influenced without altering the metabolic situation.