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Effect of loading on the organization of the collagen fibril network in juvenile equine articular cartilage
Author(s) -
Brama Pieter A.J.,
Holopainen Jaakko,
van Weeren P. René,
Firth Elwyn C.,
Helminen Heikki J.,
Hyttinen Mika M.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of orthopaedic research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.041
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1554-527X
pISSN - 0736-0266
DOI - 10.1002/jor.20866
Subject(s) - articular cartilage , fibril , juvenile , collagen fibril , chemistry , anatomy , biophysics , biology , medicine , pathology , osteoarthritis , ecology , alternative medicine
Abstract We investigated the effects of exercise‐induced loading on the collagen network of equine articular cartilage. Collagen fibril architecture at a site (1) subjected to intermittent high‐intensity loading was compared with that of an adjacent site (2) sustaining continuous low‐level load. From horses exposed to forced exercise (CONDEX group) or not (PASTEX group), the spatial parallelism of fibrils and the orientation angle between fibrils and the surface at depths 9 µm apart through cartilage from surface to tidemark were determined using polarized light microscopy, and expressed as parallelism index (PI) and orientation index (OI). PI was significantly higher in site 2 than 1 in CONDEX and PASTEX groups. PI was significantly higher in forced exercised horses at site 2 but not site 1. OI was significantly greater (more perpendicular to the surface) in the superficial and deep cartilage of site 2 than 1 in both CONDEX and PASTEX groups. Superficial zone OI was higher in exercised horses at site 1 but not at site 2. Exercise increased collagen parallelism and affected orientation. The site differences in OI indicate that Benninghoff's classic predominantly perpendicular arcades appear not to be a consistent architectural feature, but adapt to local forces sustained. © 2009 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res