[Structural and biochemical alterations of human diabetic dermis studied by H-lysine incorporation and microscopy].

The alteration of the structural organization of dermal connective tissue was studied by light and electron microscopy and by biochemical techniques in normal human and in diabetic patients using skin biopsies. Part of the tissue was used for light and electron microscopy, the rest was incubated in the presence of 3H-lysine for four hours. The 3H-lysine labelled biopsies were submitted to a sequential extraction procedure in order to obtain representative macromolecular fractions containing the matrix macromolecules.

Age dependence of the biosynthesis of intercellular matrix macromolecules of rabbit aorta in organ culture and cell culture.

The age dependence of the relative rate of biosynthesis of intercellular matrix macromolecules was studied in organ culture and cell culture obtained from aortas of newborn, young and adult rabbits. In organ culture there was a strong decrease with age of the rate of incorporation of (14C)-lysine and (3H)-glucosamine in all macromolecular fractions. Neosynthesis of elastin could be demonstrated by the isolation of labelled demosine at all ages.

[Biosynthesis of macromolecules of the intercellular matrix in aorta organ culture. Influence of the age of the animal].

Rabbit aorta organ cultures were used as a model for the study of the modifications of the rate of biosynthesis of intercellular matrix macromolecules with age. Aortas of new born (100 g), young (400 g) and adult (2 kg) rabbits were maintained in culture for several weeks. 14C-lysine is incorporated in all the macromolecular fractions of the aortas, even in polymeric elastin.