Glycosaminoglycans in urine, articular and periarticular tissues in streptozotocin diabetes in rats.

Experimental data support the hypothesis that insulin deficiency increases the degradation of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and decreases their synthesis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of streptozotocin-induced experimental diabetes on mucopolysaccharide content of the articular and periarticular tissues as well as on the urine GAGs excretion. In two groups (A and B) of ten white Wistar rats, experimental diabetes was induced after administration of streptozotocin in a dose of 65 and 45 mg/kg of body weight, respectively. The animals of group A (short term diabetes) and B (long term diabetes) were sacrificed on the 8th and 87th day of the experimental procedure respectively. GAGs were determined in urine specimens collected before and on the 8th day in group A and before and on 3rd, 8th, 16th, 23rd, 36th, 52nd, 71st and the 87th day in group B. At the end of the experiment articular and periarticular tissue specimens were examined for changes in their mucopolysaccharides content and compared to a group of five animals of the same age and dietary conditions (control group, C). We found a marked increase (P less than 0.001) of urine GAGs excretion during streptozotocin-induced diabetes as compared to the respective values before the experiment in both groups, while in group B a positive relationship (P less than 0.001) between 24 hour urine GASGs excretion, and the duration of diabetes was observed. The histochemistry of the articular and periarticular tissues revealed marked decrease in GAGs content, as well as hardening of the tendons.