Structural change in fiber matrix allows for enhanced permeability and reduced hydraulic conductivity

Because various diseases, notably diabetes mellitus, are associated with a progressive dissociation within the same organ between hydraulic conductivity (which decreases) and macromolecular permeability (which increases), it was the aim of this study to investigate whether the fiber matrix model for capillary basement membrane and intercellular material can accommodate such clinical findings. Using initial values obtained in this laboratory for a normal fiber radius of .752 nm, a void volume ratio of .627, and a macromolecular test probe radius of 3.6 nm, we found that a wide range of increases in fiber radius and reductions in void volume ratio brought about by fiber dilution are compatible with the clinical observations.