title: Histologic study of urethral extracellular matrix and collagen from aging and long-term alloxan-induced diabetic male rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Surgery, University of São Paulo Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil. aantunesrj@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Antonio Antunes
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: Haylton J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Suaid
authors.forename: Valeria P
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Fazan
authors.forename: Rodolfo B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.forename: Adauto J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Cologna
authors.forename: Silvio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tucci
authors.forename: Marcelo F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Cassini
authors.forename: Milton C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Foss
authors.forename: Antonio Carlos P
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Martins
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology*; D000496:Alloxan / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000818:Animals; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis*; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology*; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013997:Time Factors; D014521:Urethra / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D000496:Alloxan; D003094:Collagen