PURPOSE: This study was designed to measure time-dependent changes in muscle excursion and collagen content after tenotomy, and to analyze the correlation between muscle excursion and collagen content in a rabbit model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-four rabbits underwent tenotomy of the second extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles on the right legs and were randomly assigned to three groups based on the period of time after tenotomy (2, 4, and 6 weeks). The second EDL muscles on left legs were used as controls. At each time after tenotomy, passive muscle excursion and collagen content, determined by hydroxyproline content, were measured bilaterally, and the ratio of each value to the normal one was used. RESULTS: The mean ratio of muscle excursion after tenotomy to the value of the control decreased in a time-dependent fashion: 92.5% at 2 weeks, 78.6% at 4 weeks, and 55.1% at 6 weeks. The mean ratio of hydroxyproline content in muscle to the value of the control increased in a time-dependent fashion: 119.5% at 2 weeks, 157.3% at 4 weeks, and 166.6% at 6 weeks. There was a significant negative correlation between the ratio of hydroxyproline content in muscle after tenotomy to the control values and the ratio of muscle excursion after tenotomy to the control values (r=-0.602, p=0.002). CONCLUSION: The decrease in muscle excursion seems to correlate with the increase in collagen content in the muscle in a time-dependent fashion following tenotomy.
Animals ; Collagen/*metabolism ; Hydroxyproline/metabolism ; Muscle, Skeletal/*metabolism ; Rabbits ; Tendon Injuries/*metabolism ; Tendons ; Tenotomy ; Time Factors

Growth factors have the ability to stimulate matrix synthesis and cell proliferation in rabbit flexor tendon. Maximal stimulation effects of growth factors have a wide variation. It depends upon the different anatomic sites of the tendon segment, the kinds of growth factor, the concentration of growth factors, and the time sequence. Since proliferation was an early component of intrinsic tendon healing, we investigated the short-term dose response to four different growth factors on in vitro rabbit's tendon culture. We evaluated the effects according to the various concentrations of recombinant human insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF), recombinant human epidermal growth factor (EGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), and recombinant human platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF). Fetal calf serum was the most potent stimulator of cell proliferation and protein synthesis in in vitro rabbit's tendon culture. Matrix synthesis and cell proliferation were stimulated dose-dependently by IGF between the doses of 50 and 150 ng/ml. The maximum mitogenic effect of EGF was observed at the concentration of 100 ng/ml (1.3 times more than the media-only control culture). The rabbit's tendon responded significantly dose-dependently to PDGF, whereas there was no significant response to FGF.
Animal ; Cell Division/drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Growth Substances/pharmacology* ; Organ Culture ; Proteins/biosynthesis ; Rabbits ; Tendons/metabolism ; Tendons/drug effects* ; Tendons/cytology

Cell adhesion is a basic and very important tissue in the field of tissue engineering. Fibronectin and integrins are the most important elements to cell adhesion. Some surface receptors of fibroblast can also conjugate with type I collagen in extracellular matrix (ECM) directly. Laminin receptors on the surface of fibroblast bound to laminin also play a role in cell adhesion. In this paper are reviewed a number of related articles. The structures and function of fibronectin and integrins are discussed in detail; the tendon cell's adhesion structures are also discussed. Yet, there was scarcely any paper on the effects which the preservation of tissue engineered products may have on cells' adhesion fo ECM. Therefore, researching on cell adhesion and finding a way of preservation that has no or very little adverse effect on cell adhesion is an important topic. Results from expected advanced researches on cell adhesion may probably find promising applications in the field of tissue engineering.
Cell Adhesion ; Extracellular Matrix ; metabolism ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; Fibronectins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Integrins ; metabolism ; Laminin ; metabolism ; Tendons ; metabolism ; Tissue Engineering

Using tissue-engineered tendons to repair tendons and ligaments as well as functional reconstruction is the focus of nowadays researches. The scaffolds must be not only unharmful to health, but also easy for cells attachment, and be able to induce collagen deposition to form a neotendon with mechanic properties similar to those of normal tendon. In recent researches, it has been found that the mechanic properties of the implants change with the degrading and femdonizing of scaffolds. The relationships between collagen deposition, scaffolds degradation and mechanic properties of neotendon need to be defined more clearly.
Animals ; Biocompatible Materials ; metabolism ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Bioprosthesis ; Collagen ; metabolism ; Dogs ; Mice ; Rats ; Sheep ; Tendons ; Tissue Engineering

Xanthomas are local collections of lipid-laden macrophages and collagen, which are usually associated with impaired lipoprotein metabolism. Xanthomas occur frequently in the skin, subcutis, or tendon, and occasionally in the plantar fascia. Small numbers of xanthomas have been surgically confirmed in the plantar fascia and their sonographic appearance has not been described in the literature. We present sonographic findings of a pathologically proven plantar fascia xanthoma, which was initially mistaken as plantar fibromatosis.
Collagen ; Fascia ; Fibroma* ; Foot ; Lipoproteins ; Macrophages ; Metabolism ; Skin ; Tendons ; Ultrasonography ; Xanthomatosis*

Xanthoma tendinosum is a hereditary lipid storage disease marked by formation of papules or nodules in the tendon, especially the extensor tendon of the hand and feet and the Achilles tendon. Xanthoma of the Achilles tendon is a rather rare, interesting orthopaedic condition that has important ramification in internal medicine and dermatology because the lesion is associated with a specific disturbance of lipid metabolism with elevated blood cholesterol level. Author present a case of bilaterally involved Achilles tendon Xanthoma. We performed subtotal resection with gastrocnemius fascial transfer on one side and total resection with peroneus brevis tendon transfer on the other side.
Achilles Tendon ; Cholesterol ; Dermatology ; Foot ; Hand ; Internal Medicine ; Lipid Metabolism ; Tendon Transfer ; Tendons ; Xanthomatosis

Numerous musculoskeletal disorders are caused by thickened ligament, tendon stiffness, or fibrosis of joint capsule. Relaxin, a peptide hormone, can exert collagenolytic effect on ligamentous and fibrotic tissues. We hypothesized that local injection of relaxin could be used to treat entrapment neuropathy and adhesive capsulitis. Because hormonal effect depends on the receptor of the hormone on the target cell, it is important to confirm the presence of such hormonal receptor at the target tissue before the hormone therapy is initiated. The aim of this study was to determine whether there were relaxin receptors in the ligament, tendon, and joint capsular tissues of rats and to identify the distribution of relaxin receptors in these tissues. Transverse carpal ligaments (TCLs), inguinal ligaments, anterior cruciate ligaments (ACLs), Achilles tendons, and shoulder joint capsules were obtained from male Wistar rats. Western blot analysis was used to identify relaxin receptor isoforms RXFP1 and RXFP2. The distribution of relaxin receptors was determined by immunohistochemical staining. The RXFP1 isoform was found in all tissues examined. The RXFP2 isoform was present in all tissues but the TCLs. Its expression in ACLs tissues was relatively weak compared to that in other tissues. Our results revealed that RXFP1 and RXFP2 were distributed in distinctly different patterns according to the type of tissue (vascular endothelial cells, fibroblast-like cells) they were identified.
Animals ; Blotting, Western ; *Gene Expression Regulation ; Immunohistochemistry ; Ligaments/*metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/*genetics/metabolism ; Receptors, Peptide/*genetics/metabolism ; Shoulder Joint/*metabolism ; Tendons/*metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the ameliorative effect of ginseng glycopeptide on cross-linking of rat tail tendon collagen.

METHODELISA was used to determine the inhibitory effect of ginseng glycopeptide on cross-linking of rat tail tendon collagen in vitro. After ginseng glycopeptide was intraperitoneally administrated to streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats for 12 weeks, the acid solubility, limited pepsin degradation properties and solubility in SDS-2-mercaptoethanol of the rat tail tendon collagen were determined, and the effect of ginseng glycopeptide on the tail tendon collagen cross-linking was evaluated.

RESULTGinseng glycopeptide inhibited significantly the cross-linking of rat tail tendon collagen in vitro. The solubility of the tail tendon collagen (in acid, pepsin and SDS-2-mercaptoethanol) was markedly decreased in diabetic rats and ginseng glycopeptide-treated diabetic rats had significantly an increase in the collagen solubility in the above-mentioned solutions, suggesting that ginseng glycopeptide decreased severity of the collagen cross-linking.

CONCLUSIONGinsengglycopeptide exhibits an significantly ameliorative effect on cross-linking of rat tail tendon collagen.

Animals ; Collagen ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; metabolism ; Female ; Glycopeptides ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Male ; Panax ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Solubility ; Tail ; Tendons ; metabolism

Cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis is a very rare lipid storage disease which is inherited as autosomal recessive trait. The disease is due to an abnormality of cholesterol metabolism, in which excess formation of cholestanol and defect of bile acid synthesis were found. So abnormally high concentration of cholestanol is deposited within the nervous system, the tendons and the other tissues. But, the basic biochemical defect has not as yet been identified. Cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis is characterized by bilateral juvenile cataracts and tendinous xanthomas followed by progressive dementia and cerebellar ataxia. The condition progresses slowly. Death usually occurs during the sixth or seventh decade due to progressive pseudobulbar palsy. The authors have experienced and report a case of presumed cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis in 23-year-old Korean female, and the literatures were reviewed briefly.
Bile ; Cataract ; Cerebellar Ataxia ; Cholestanol ; Cholesterol ; Dementia ; Female ; Humans ; Metabolism ; Nervous System ; Pseudobulbar Palsy ; Tendons ; Xanthomatosis* ; Xanthomatosis, Cerebrotendinous ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility of life span extension of transformed human embryonic tendon cells (THETC) by reconstitution of the telomerase activity.

METHODSTHETC were transfected by pGRN145 plasmid containing the human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) cNDA in vitro by molecular cloning technique. The biological characteristics of transfected cells were detected and compared by morphological observation, plate cloning efficiency, soft agar culture, growth curve of cells cultured in different conditions, immunohistochemistry, telomerase activity assay by telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP).

RESULTSThe THETC transfected by pGRN145 plasmid (telT) could express the telomerase activity with extension of life span. The telT maintained the original characteristics of temperature-dependant and serum-dependant, as well as secretion of type I collagen normally and without tendency of malignant transformation.

CONCLUSIONSThe life span of THETC can be prolonged by reconstitution of telomerase activity, which provides the novel experimental methods to establish the standard cells line.

Cell Line ; Cell Survival ; Embryo, Mammalian ; Humans ; Plasmids ; genetics ; RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase ; Telomerase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Tendons ; cytology ; enzymology ; Transfection