Effect of adjuvant-arthritis on collagen metabolism

In albino rats with adjuvant arthritis, the metabolism of skin collagen was studied. This skin samples were taken from 21 to 49 days after the injection of Freund's adjuvant. Glycine-1-C14 was given 5h before sacrifice of the animals. The analyses of skins showed that compared to uninflammed skins, the adjuvant arthritis group had an increase in neutral-salt soluble collagen and acid soluble collagen contents. But the total and insoluble collagen contents were found to be decreased. The incorporation of C14 glycine into skin collagen and the free glycine content of skins were also decreased. There was no significant change in the total nitrogen, RNA and DNA contents of skins. The analyses of urine at weekly intervals showed an increased value of urinary total, free and non-dialysable hydroxyproline in arthritic group. The results suggest that there is an alteration in the metabolism of collagen.