Changes in Collagen Structure in Bone and Tail Tendon From Diabetic Rats Revealed By Atomic Force Microscopy

INTRODUCTION Type 2 Diabetes (non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, T2D) has detrimental impacts on multiple organ systems including the renal, circulatory and nervous systems. Destructive effects are also apparent on the musculoskeletal system, although studies are limited in comparison. T2D likely affects bone and other collagen-based tissues through multiple mechanisms. Chronic hyperglycemia in T2D has been implicated in the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) which form when reducing sugars react with free amino groups in proteins. The formation of AGEs in Type I collagen could lead to a stiffening of fibrils and, in the case of bone, this may be lead to decreased toughness. However, few studies have directly investigated the collagen ultrastructure in diabetic tissues. The purpose of this work was to study the nanoscale morphology of Type I collagen in mineralized and non-mineralized tissue from normal and diabetic rats.