Aging does not change the compressive stiffness of mandibular condylar cartilage in horses.
Abstract: Aging can cause an increase in the stiffness of hyaline cartilage as a consequence of increased protein crosslinks. By induction of crosslinking, a reduction in the diffusion of solutions into the hyaline cartilage has been observed. However, there is a lack of knowledge about the effects of aging on the biophysical and biochemical properties of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) cartilage. Hence, the aim of this study was to examine the biophysical properties (thickness, stiffness, and diffusion) of the TMJ condylar cartilage of horses of different ages and their correlation with biochemical parameters. We measured the compressive stiffness of the condyles, after which the diffusion of two contrast agents into cartilage was measured using Contrast Enhanced Computed Tomography technique. Furthermore, the content of water, collagen, GAG, and pentosidine was analyzed. Contrary to our expectations, the stiffness of the cartilage did not change with age (modulus remained around 0.7 MPa). The diffusion of the negatively charged contrast agent (Hexabrix) also did not alter. However, the diffusion of the uncharged contrast agent (Visipaque) decreased with aging. The flux was negatively correlated with the amount of collagen and crosslink level which increased with aging. Pentosidine, collagen, and GAG were positively correlated with age whereas thickness and water content showed negative correlations. Our data demonstrated that aging was not necessarily reflected in the biophysical properties of TMJ condylar cartilage. The combination of the changes happening due to aging resulted in different diffusive properties, depending on the nature of the solution.
Copyright © 2018 Osteoarthritis Research Society International. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2018-08-23 PubMed ID: 30145230DOI: 10.1016/j.joca.2018.08.007Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research investigates whether aging affects the biophysical properties of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) cartilage in horses. It reveals that contrary to previous assumptions, the stiffness of the TMJ condylar cartilage does not change with age.
Study Purpose and Methodology
- The main purpose of this study was to fill knowledge gaps regarding the effects of aging on the TMJ cartilage’s biophysical and biochemical properties. The TMJ cartilage properties examined included thickness, stiffness, and diffusion.
- To gather data, the researchers measured the compressive stiffness of the condyles in the TMJ cartilage of horses of varying ages. They also used Contrast Enhanced Computed Tomography to measure the diffusion of two contrast agents into the cartilage.
- Additionally, the team estimated the content of water, collagen, GAG (glycosaminoglycans), and pentosidine within the TMJ cartilage.
Key Findings
- Against the researchers’ initial expectations, it was found that the TMJ cartilage’s stiffness does not change with the horse’s age; the modulus consistently remained around 0.7 MPa.
- There was no observed change in the diffusion of Hexabrix, a negatively charged contrast agent. However, the diffusion of Visipaque, an uncharged contrast agent, was observed to decrease with the horse’s aging. This suggested varying diffusive properties due to aging, depending on the solution’s nature.
- The movement (flux) of the contrast agent was found to have a negative correlation with the amount of collagen and the level of crosslinking, both of which increased with aging.
- There was a positive correlation between pentosidine, collagen, and GAG and the horses’ age. Meanwhile, thickness and water content were negatively correlated with age.
Conclusion
- In conclusion, the research refuted the common belief that aging automatically reflects on the biophysical properties of TMJ condylar cartilage, with aging having no discernible effect on cartilage stiffness.
- It was also underscored that the changes induced by aging could lead to altered diffusive properties, contingent on the solution involved.
Cite This Article
APA
Mirahmadi F, Koolstra JH, Fazaeli S, Lobbezoo F, van Lenthe GH, Snabel J, Stoop R, Arbabi V, Weinans H, Everts V.
(2018).
Aging does not change the compressive stiffness of mandibular condylar cartilage in horses.
Osteoarthritis Cartilage, 26(12), 1744-1752.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joca.2018.08.007 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Oral Cell Biology and Functional Anatomy, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Biomechanics Section, Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: f.mirahmadi@acta.nl.
- Department of Oral Cell Biology and Functional Anatomy, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: j.koolstra@acta.nl.
- Department of Oral Cell Biology and Functional Anatomy, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: s.fazaeli@acta.nl.
- Department of Oral Kinesiology, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), University of Amsterdam and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: f.lobbezoo@acta.nl.
- Biomechanics Section, Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: harry.vanlenthe@kuleuven.be.
- TNO Metabolic Health Research, Leiden, The Netherlands. Electronic address: jessica.snabel@tno.nl.
- TNO Metabolic Health Research, Leiden, The Netherlands. Electronic address: reinout.stoop@tno.nl.
- Department of Biomechanical Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime, and Materials Engineering, Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), Delft, The Netherlands; Department of Orthopedics, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Birjand, Birjand, Iran. Electronic address: v.arbabi@tudelft.nl.
- Department of Biomechanical Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime, and Materials Engineering, Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), Delft, The Netherlands; Department of Orthopedics, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands; Department of Rheumatology, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: h.h.weinans@umcutrecht.nl.
- Department of Oral Cell Biology and Functional Anatomy, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: v.everts@acta.nl.
MeSH Terms
- Aging / pathology
- Aging / physiology
- Animals
- Biomechanical Phenomena / physiology
- Cartilage, Articular / anatomy & histology
- Cartilage, Articular / diagnostic imaging
- Cartilage, Articular / physiology
- Collagen / metabolism
- Compressive Strength / physiology
- Contrast Media / pharmacokinetics
- Diffusion
- Horses / physiology
- Ioxaglic Acid / pharmacokinetics
- Mandibular Condyle / anatomy & histology
- Mandibular Condyle / diagnostic imaging
- Mandibular Condyle / physiology
- Temporomandibular Joint / anatomy & histology
- Temporomandibular Joint / diagnostic imaging
- Temporomandibular Joint / physiology
- Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods
- Triiodobenzoic Acids / pharmacokinetics
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Wakale S, Wu X, Sonar Y, Sun A, Fan X, Crawford R, Prasadam I. How are Aging and Osteoarthritis Related?. Aging Dis 2023 Jun 1;14(3):592-604.
- Li L, Deng P, Hou S, Li G, Suo M, Xu L, Wang C, Song J. Tissue stiffness heterogeneity in the jaw and temporomandibular joint: its impact on tumor metabolism and considerations for in vitro model development. Front Physiol 2025;16:1661054.
- Hollander JM, Goraltchouk A, Rawal M, Liu J, Luppino F, Zeng L, Seregin A. Adeno-Associated Virus-Delivered Fibroblast Growth Factor 18 Gene Therapy Promotes Cartilage Anabolism. Cartilage 2023 Dec;14(4):492-505.
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