In rats with chronic diabetes, the synthesis of glomerular basement membrane was investigated in vivo by injection of 3H-proline. Compared to the nondiabetic controls, the basement membrane synthesis was markedly raised. The formation of hydroxyproline as parameter for the synthesis of the collagen portion of the basement membrane increased to a somewhat greater extent than the incorporation of 3H-proline. Hydroxyproline formation and proline incorporation showed a close correlation with the blood sugar level in the diabetic rats.
Diabetic rats were treated intraperitoneally for 2 weeks with (+)-catechιn 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 decrease 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.
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.
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