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Identification of a Tendon Phenotype in GDF6 Deficient Mice
Author(s) -
Mikic Borjana,
Rossmeier Kerri,
Bierwert Louann
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
the anatomical record: advances in integrative anatomy and evolutionary biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.678
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1932-8494
pISSN - 1932-8486
DOI - 10.1002/ar.20852
Subject(s) - tendon , phenotype , biology , ligament , extracellular matrix , null allele , microbiology and biotechnology , anatomy , genetics , pathology , gene , medicine
Increasing evidence suggests that the growth/differentiation factors, GDFs 5, 6, and 7 in particular, may play a role in tendon and ligament biology. Mice with genetic mutations in Gdf5 have altered tendon composition and mechanical behavior, whereas animals with functional null mutations in Gdf7 have a more subtle tendon phenotype. The present study demonstrates for the first time that a null mutation in Gdf6 is associated with substantially lower levels of tail tendon collagen content (−33%) in 4‐week‐old male mice, which has direct functional consequences for the mechanical integrity of the tissue (45–50% reduction in material properties). These data support a role for GDF6 in tendon matrix modeling. Anat Rec, 292:396–400, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.