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Effect of different running modes on the morphological, biochemical, and mechanical properties of articular cartilage
Author(s) -
Hamann N.,
Zaucke F.,
Heilig J.,
Oberländer K. D.,
Brüggemann G.P.,
Niehoff A.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of medicine and science in sports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.575
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1600-0838
pISSN - 0905-7188
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0838.2012.01513.x
Subject(s) - cartilage , cartilage oligomeric matrix protein , articular cartilage , staining , anatomy , type ii collagen , extracellular matrix , matrix (chemical analysis) , medicine , osteoarthritis , biomedical engineering , chemistry , pathology , biochemistry , alternative medicine , chromatography
Mechanical loading plays an important role not solely in cartilage development, but also in cartilage degeneration. Its adaptation behavior to mechanical loading has not been clearly delineated. The aim of the study was to examine the effect of different running modes (with different muscle contraction types) on morphological, biochemical, and mechanical properties of articular cartilage in the knee of growing rats. Thirty‐six female S prague– D awley rats were randomly assigned into a nonactive age‐matched control ( AMC ), level ( LEVEL ), and 20° downhill ( DOWN ) running group ( n = 12 each). Running groups were trained on a treadmill for 30 min/day, 5 days/week for 6 weeks. Immunohistochemical staining and analysis of expression for collagen II , collagen IX , cartilage oligomeric matrix protein ( COMP ), and matrilin‐3, histomorphometry of femoral cartilage height and femoral COMP staining height, and indentation testing of tibial articular cartilage were performed. Rats subjected to downhill running showed a significantly ( P = 0.015) higher COMP staining height and a tendentially ( P = 0.084) higher cartilage height in the high‐weight bearing area of femoral articular cartilage. Cartilage thickness, mechanical properties, and expression of cartilage network proteins in tibial cartilage remained unaffected by different running modes. Our data suggest that joint loading induced by eccentric muscle contractions during downhill running may lead to a site‐specific adaptation.