Senescent changes in submandibular gland collagen in the Senescence Accelerated Mouse(SAM)

Abstract

Using SAMR1 and SAMP8 mice, we investigated the senescent changes of submandibular gland collagen. The extractability of soluble collagen by pepsin digestion was low(21.0%-13.2%), and decreased with senescence. The solubility with CNBr treatment was also very low(about 40%), and decreased with senescence. Our findings suggest that senile functional changes in the submandibular gland are characterized by collagen containing high cross-linkage.