An age-related study of morphology and cross-link composition of collagen fibrils in the digital flexor tendons of young thoroughbred horses.
Abstract: The superficial digital flexor tendon is the most commonly injured tendon in the racing Thoroughbred. Despite the clinical significance of this structure, only limited data exist regarding normal age-related morphology of the tensile units, the collagen fibrils. The age at which these collagen fibrils become mature in composition and structure may be of importance. Consequently, the association of age and collagen fibril crosslink composition, diameter distribution and crimp morphology in the superficial and deep digital flexor tendons of Thoroughbreds up to and including three years of age has been studied. Replacement of immature crosslinks, peaking of the collagen fibril mass-average diameter and collagen fibril index, and stabilization of collagen crimp morphology changes supported the hypothesis that both digital flexor tendons become mature in structure by two years of age.
Publication Date: 1997-01-01 PubMed ID: 9512893DOI: 10.3109/03008209709160225Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research article discusses how the structure and composition of collagen fibrils, which are parts of the superficial digital flexor tendons in young thoroughbred horses, mature by the age of two.
Objective and Importance of the Study
- The study aims to understand the age-based changes in normal morphology of collagen fibrils, the tensile units in the superficial digital flexor tendon of racing Thoroughbred, which is a frequently injured tendon.
- Understanding the age at which these fibrils mature in both structure and composition is crucial, hence the research gauges the association of age with the collagen fibril crosslink composition, diameter distribution, and crimp morphology in superficial and deep digital flexor tendons of Thoroughbreds up to the age of three.
Methodology and Findings
- The study investigates the tendons at different ages, observing the replacement of immature crosslinks, evaluation of the collagen fibril mass-average diameter, and changes in the collagen fibril index.
- The research also tracks progress in stabilization of collagen crimp morphology changes.
- The findings support the initial hypothesis that the structure of both digital flexor tendons in Thoroughbreds becomes mature by the age of two.
Implications of the Research
- The outcomes of the study offer significant insights that can be crucial for preventing injuries and for the treatment of tendon-related health issues in Thoroughbred horses, especially those involved in racing.
- Knowing that the tendon matures by two years of age, precautions or treatments can be specifically tailored for horses of this age to avert likely injuries.
- Moreover, the study contributes to the broader understanding of animal physiology, specifically equine tendon maturation.
Cite This Article
APA
Patterson-Kane JC, Parry DA, Birch HL, Goodship AE, Firth EC.
(1997).
An age-related study of morphology and cross-link composition of collagen fibrils in the digital flexor tendons of young thoroughbred horses.
Connect Tissue Res, 36(3), 253-260.
https://doi.org/10.3109/03008209709160225 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Massey University Palmerston North, New Zealand.
MeSH Terms
- Aging / metabolism
- Animals
- Collagen / chemistry
- Collagen / metabolism
- Collagen / ultrastructure
- Cross-Linking Reagents
- Horses
- Image Enhancement
- Microscopy, Electron
- Microscopy, Polarization / methods
- Tendons / chemistry
- Tendons / metabolism
- Tendons / ultrastructure
Citations
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- Hu LY, Mileti CJ, Loomis T, Brashear SE, Ahmad S, Chellakudam RR, Wohlgemuth RP, Gionet-Gonzales MA, Leach JK, Smith LR. Skeletal muscle progenitors are sensitive to collagen architectural features of fibril size and cross linking. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2021 Aug 1;321(2):C330-C342.
- Crawford KL, Finnane A, Phillips CJC, Greer RM, Woldeyohannes SM, Perkins NR, Kidd LJ, Ahern BJ. The Risk Factors for Musculoskeletal Injuries in Thoroughbred Racehorses in Queensland, Australia: How These Vary for Two-Year-Old and Older Horses and with Type of Injury. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jan 21;11(2).
- Crawford KL, Finnane A, Greer RM, Phillips CJC, Woldeyohannes SM, Perkins NR, Ahern BJ. Appraising the Welfare of Thoroughbred Racehorses in Training in Queensland, Australia: The Incidence and Type of Musculoskeletal Injuries Vary between Two-Year-Old and Older Thoroughbred Racehorses. Animals (Basel) 2020 Nov 5;10(11).
- Ribitsch I, Gueltekin S, Keith MF, Minichmair K, Peham C, Jenner F, Egerbacher M. Age-related changes of tendon fibril micro-morphology and gene expression. J Anat 2020 Apr;236(4):688-700.
- Gogola A, Jan NJ, Brazile B, Lam P, Lathrop KL, Chan KC, Sigal IA. Spatial Patterns and Age-Related Changes of the Collagen Crimp in the Human Cornea and Sclera. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2018 Jun 1;59(7):2987-2998.
- Magnusson SP, Kjaer M. The impact of loading, unloading, ageing and injury on the human tendon. J Physiol 2019 Mar;597(5):1283-1298.
- Slane LC, Martin J, DeWall R, Thelen D, Lee K. Quantitative ultrasound mapping of regional variations in shear wave speeds of the aging Achilles tendon. Eur Radiol 2017 Feb;27(2):474-482.
- Herbert A, Brown C, Rooney P, Kearney J, Ingham E, Fisher J. Bi-linear mechanical property determination of acellular human patellar tendon grafts for use in anterior cruciate ligament replacement. J Biomech 2016 Jun 14;49(9):1607-1612.
- Couppé C, Svensson RB, Grosset JF, Kovanen V, Nielsen RH, Olsen MR, Larsen JO, Praet SF, Skovgaard D, Hansen M, Aagaard P, Kjaer M, Magnusson SP. Life-long endurance running is associated with reduced glycation and mechanical stress in connective tissue. Age (Dordr) 2014;36(4):9665.
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- Gsell KY, Kreplak L, Veres SP. In tendons, differing physiological requirements lead to distinct patterns of MMP-1 degradation. Sci Rep 2025 Dec 23;16(1):2420.
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- Wu CW, Huang TY, Huang LJ, Kuo YW, Guo CL, Kuo PL. Spontaneous Crimping of Gelatin Methacryloyl Nanofibrils Induced by Limited Hydration. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2025 Aug 11;11(8):4758-4772.
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