Le. Franzen et K. Roberg, IMPAIRED CONNECTIVE-TISSUE REPAIR IN STREPTOZOTOCIN-INDUCED DIABETES SHOWS ULTRASTRUCTURAL SIGNS OF IMPAIRED CONTRACTION, The Journal of surgical research, 58(4), 1995, pp. 407-414
Streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus is known to impair connective
tissue repair in the perforated rat mesentery. The aim of the present
investigation was to study quantitatively by morphometrical technique
s the influence of diabetes on some aspects of the cellular ultrastruc
ture related to connective tissue contraction in such healing. The cel
lular volume density increased significantly with time, presumably as
a consequence of disappearance of interstitial edema. No difference wa
s found in the amount of healing tissue formed between controls and di
abetics. The surface volume density of the plasma membrane was signifi
cantly higher in control animals on Days 1-10, indicating an increased
number of cellular protrusions and spikes which relate to the motilit
y of the cells. The volume density of contractile filaments did not di
ffer between controls and diabetics. The results suggest a reduced sur
face density of plasma membrane in diabetic cells, a finding which is
compatible with reduced wound contraction in diabetes. (C) 1995 Academ
ic Press, Inc.