Experimental studies on connective tissue of the capsular ligament. Influences of aging and sex hormones.

Influences of aging and sex hormones on connective tissue metabolism in the hip joint capsule of Wistar rats were analyzed both biochemically and morphologically. As age advanced, collagen content and collagen fibril diameter of the hip joint capsule tended to increase gradually in both sexes until sexual maturation was reached. Collagen content was significantly greater in males than in females after sexual maturation. The collagen content and fibril diameter were considerably increased by ovariectomy and significantly decreased by the administration of estrogen, or estrogen combined with progesterone, whereas they were significantly increased by the administration of testosterone in orchiectomized male rats.