Proteoglycans in bones of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Insulin seems to regulate the biosynthesis of proteoglycans in some tissues such as growth plate and glomeruli. The present investigation was undertaken to assess the ex vivo influence of insulin on proteoglycan metabolism in bones. Mandible and femur bones were used. Xiphoid cartilage was used as a control tissue of high glycosaminoglycan content. Diabetes was induced by 0.12 mg/g b.w. streptozotocin in male Sprague-Dawley rats, a number of which was treated with insulin (1 I.U./100 g b.w.) for 6 days. As compared with control animals, diabetic rats exhibited a decreased [35S]sulfate uptake as well as a shift to the right in Sephacryl S-500 chromatography. In addition, they showed lower density of proteoglycans in sucrose gradient and shorter glycosaminoglycan side chains in Sephadex G-200 chromatography. These changes were partly reversed by insulin.