EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES ON THE EFFECT OF AGING AND ENDOCRINE CONTROL ON COLLAGEN FORMATION IN VARIOUS ORGANS

Abstract

Physiological changes with advancing age of collagen content, fiber and fibril sizes in some connective tissues, the morphological profiles and enzyme histochemical activities of fibroblasts in different organs. and the effect of gonadectomy, adrenalectomy, hypophysectomy and their hormone replacement on the collagen and fibroblasts were studied using DDD, C57BL/6J, A/Jax, DW/J mice and Wistar rats. It was suggested that connective tissue in these organs was under the specific control of endocrine organs such as gonads, adrenals and the pituitary and that these controls might be effected through their hormonal effects on the specifically differentiated fibroblast localized in different organs and tissue.