z-logo
Premium
Cross‐link stabilization does not affect the response of collagen molecules, fibrils, or tendons to tensile overload
Author(s) -
Veres Samuel P.,
Harrison Julia M.,
Lee J. Michael
Publication year - 2013
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.22460
Subject(s) - tendon , biophysics , chemistry , fibril , ultimate tensile strength , isometric exercise , elongation , materials science , anatomy , biochemistry , medicine , biology , composite material
We investigated whether immature allysine‐derived cross‐links provide mechanically labile linkages by exploring the effects of immature cross‐link stabilization at three levels of collagen hierarchy: damaged fibril morphology, whole tendon mechanics, and molecular stability. Tendons from the tails of young adult steers were either treated with sodium borohydride (NaBH 4 ) to stabilize labile cross‐links, exposed only to the buffer used during stabilization treatment, or maintained as untreated controls. One‐half of each tendon was then subjected to five cycles of subrupture overload. Morphologic changes to collagen fibrils resulting from overload were investigated using scanning electron microscopy, and changes in the hydrothermal stability of collagen molecules were assessed using hydrothermal isometric tension testing. NaBH 4 cross‐link stabilization did not affect the response of tendon collagen to tensile overload at any of the three levels of hierarchy studied. Cross‐link stabilization did not prevent the characteristic overload‐induced mode of fibril damage that we term discrete plasticity. Similarly, stabilization did not alter the mechanical response of whole tendons to overload, and did not prevent an overload‐induced thermal destabilization of collagen molecules. Our results indicate that hydrothermally labile cross‐links may not be as mechanically labile as was previously thought. © 2013 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 31:1907–1913, 2013

This content is not available in your region!

Continue researching here.

Having issues? You can contact us here