[Tissue mucopolysaccharides and collagen in hypokinesia in rats].

The study of 98 rats showed an increased amount of collagen in the skeletal muscle, heart and kidneys of rats exposed to prolonged hypokinesia. The content of hexosamines decreased in the skeletal muscle, liver and brain and increased in the heart. The content of hexuronic acids in th skeletal muscle and kidneys increased and in the heart decreased. By the 60th day of the recovery period the collagen content in the skeletal muscle did not return to normal. After the exposure changes in the content of mucopolysaccharides in the liver, heart, brain and skeletal muscle were in some cases more expressed than during hypokinesia. The changes are discussed in terms of their possible effect on tissue permeability and fluid-electrolyte metabolism of hypokinetic animals.