Connective Tissue: I. Age and Sex Influence on Protein Composition of Rat Tissues

Abstract

Tissues from tail tendon, aorta, skin, uterus, lung, muscle, heart, liver, kidney and spleen of male and female rats at 3–5 wk, 8 mo and 2 yr of age were fractionated into soluble protein, insoluble collagen and elastin. Amount of soluble collagen in the soluble protein fraction was calculated according to amount of hydroxyproline. Significant changes in these fractions with age occurred only in skin, tendon, uterus and aorta, with scleroprotein increased and non-scleroprotein decreased.