Comparison of Normal and in vitro Aging by Non-Enzymatic Glycation as Verified by Differential Scanning Calorimetry

The biomechanical parameters of rat tail tendons (RTTs) from 35-, 64-, 180- and 900-day-old animals, corresponding to the early maturation phase, the mature and the senescent state were determined. The increase of maximum stiffness, ultimate stress and the elastic fraction of stress was most pronounced in the maturation phase. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) experiments were performed showing an almost linear increase of the collagen denaturation temperature in the age range 35-139 days. After 14 days incubation in glucose, we observed a marked increase of the biomechanical parameters in the young, an increase of maximum stiffness in mature, and only slight alterations of the biomechanical behavior in senescent RTTs. Both glucose incorporation and formation of advanced glycation end products were most prominent in 35-day-old RTTs. These biochemical findings were in excellent agreement with the enhancement of the collagen denaturation temperature after the incubation phase. Results suggest that the validity of the term 'accelerated aging' depends on the experimental approach, i.e. biomechanical tests, thermal isometric contraction or DSC.