Ageing processes in collagens from different tissues of rats

It has been demonstrated by solubility data, that the differences in cross-linking and degree of polymerisation in connective tissue from different organs of a single animal are much more pronounced than the increase which occurs with advancing age. Judged from the cross-linking analysis one can therefore conclude that in a single animal there are connective tissues which differ in their degree of maturity. It is therefore conceivable to suggest that the level of cross-linking should not be taken as the measure of the biological age of the animal.