This thesis describes the study of collagen from the human colonic wall in healthy subjects and in those subjects with colonic diverticulosis, in relation to aging of the tissue. This thesis also examines the effect of diet on the collagen of the colon of the laboratory rat, as a model for the study of the human subject. Chapters 1 and 2 describe the background to the study. Chapter 1 describes the structure and function of the human colon and some of the conditions which affect it. Chapter 2 describes the structure and previous studies on connective tissues and the realationship between structure and function. Chapter 3 describes the materials nad methodology used in the work in this thesis, for examining, both the effect of age and diet on the collagen of the colon. This involves biochemical and structural analysis. Chapter 4 presents data from the study of the effect of aging on the collagen from healthy colons and those with colonic diverticulosis. The chapter describes biochemical and structural evidence for altered colonic collagen in the aged tissue. Chapter 5 presents data from the study of the effect of diet on colonic collagen using the laboratory rat as a suitable model for the situation in humans. This chapter describes biochemical and structural evidence for altered colonic collagen as a consequence of a diet low in dietary fibre. This chapter also examines the effect of maternal diet on the health of the offspring. The chapter also describes the possible role of dietary fibre in protection against colonic diverticulosis. Chapter 6 discusses the techniques used and the results produced. The chapter discusses the two theories relevant to the aetiology of colonic diverticulosis, the way in which these theories conflict and run in parallel. The inevitability of colonic diverticula as a consequence of age is discussed. A possible mechanism for the development of colonic diverticulosis is described. The techniques and their potential in further studies is discussed.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:663655 |
| Date | January 1993 |
| Creators | Wess, Linda |
| Publisher | University of Edinburgh |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | http://hdl.handle.net/1842/20294 |
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