Study of bone metabolism and glycation of scale matrix collagen in alloxan induced hyperglycemic goldfish models.

Abstract

We investigated the cause of the increased fracture rate in diabetes patients through analyses of bone metabolism and bone matrix protein properties by using goldfish scales as a bone model of hyperglycemia that is induced by an alloxan injection. In the glycation of scale matrix collagen, we found that the existence ratio of γ-fraction, which had molecular weight of more than tripled of single fiber, increased in hyperglycemia goldfish. Consequently, these results indicated that advanced glycation endo products (AGEs) bound to collagen fibers, and accumulation of bonded AGEs in collagen fibers conduced to additional dimer, trimer and more of cross-linking formation between glycated collagen fibers. In addition, our compressive strength testing of glycated collagen bars (freeze-dried specimen) showed that mechanical strength and flexibility of collagen fibers were decreased with the increasing in AGEs-provoked cross-linking between the collagen fibers. Therefore, hyperglycemic induced cross-linking in bone matrix might explain the fracture susceptibility.