CHANGES IN SWELLING AND SOLUBILITY OF TENDON FIBRES COLLAGEN (RATS OF DIFFERENT AGE) STORED IN DIFFERENT TEMPERATURES IN VITRO

Collagen of tendon fibres taken from male rat tails of different ages and stored dry in vitro is subject to physicochemical changes, like these which are characteristic of collagen ageing in vivo. Changes are found both in swelling and in solubility. Within 17 weeks of storing tendon fibre collagen changes into the insoluble state and its swelling is minimal. The rate of ageing in vitro depends on the temperature of surroundings. Tendon fibres stored in our experiment at -8 degrees C show comparatively small changes as compared with the fresh ones. The most rapid change is found in collagen of fibres stored at 20 degrees C (room temperature). The interpretation of these changes in the structural stability of collagen ageing in vitro is discussed.