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Histologic study of urethral extracellular matrix and collagen from aging and long-term alloxan-induced diabetic male
Antonio Antunes Rodrigues1, Haylton J Suaid, Valeria P Fazan
1Department of Anatomy and Surgery, University of São Paulo Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil. aantunesrj@yahoo.com.br
Objectives:
To evaluate the histological alterations of extracellular matrix in long-term alloxan-induced diabetes and aging urethras of male rats with descriptions of total connective tissue, muscle layer and collagen types I and III relative amounts.
Methods:
Histologic evaluations were performed in 3 animal groups: group 1, 8 weeks old; group 2, 44 weeks old; and group 3, 44 weeks old with alloxan-induced diabetes. The muscle layer thickness, extracellular matrix fibrosis, and collagen were quantified on digital images of the urethral samples.
Results:
A higher total thickness and muscle layer thickness and higher connective tissue and collagen content were observed in the urethras of group 3. No changes in the collagen type III/I ratio were found in the urethra of groups 2 and 3.
Conclusions:
Our results suggest that the morphologic alterations of the urethra should also be considered in long-term studies of diabetic lower urinary tract dysfunction. These morphologic alterations due to diabetes differ from the changes induced by aging itself and could represent a final stage in decompensate urethras. Further studies are necessary to establish the real influence of the urethral morphologic changes on lower urinary tract diabetes dysfunction.
