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The biomechanical properties of skin and aorta were studied in rats with experimental (streptozotocin) diabetes. After 30 days of diabetes the collagen content of the skin was diminished by 30%. By biomechanical testing collagen from diabetic rats was found to exhibit increased stiffness and strength: maximal stiffness was increased by 20% and the strain at maximum stress was decreased by 10%. Insulin treatment prevented all changes. No differences were found between aortic specimens from diabetic and normal rats.
Andreassen et al. (Sun,) studied this question.