Biochemical development of subchondral bone from birth until age eleven months and the influence of physical activity.
Abstract: Subchondral bone provides structural support to the overlying articular cartilage, and plays an important role in osteochondral diseases. There is growing insight that the mechanical features of bone are related to the biochemistry of the collagen network and the mineral content. In the present study, part of the normal developmental process and the influence of physical activity on biochemical composition of subchondral bone was studied. Water content, calcium content and characteristics of the collagen network (collagen, hydroxylysine, lysylpyridinoline (LP) and hydroxylysylpyridinoline (HP) crosslinking) of subchondral bone were measured in newborn foals, 5-month-old foals (pasture-grown and box-confined) and 11-month-old foals at 2 differently loaded sites of the proximal articular surface of the first phalanx. During the first 5 months postpartum, water and hydroxylysine content decreased significantly while calcium and collagen content and the amount of HP and LP crosslinks increased significantly. The withholding of physical activity during this developmental phase affected the biochemical characteristics of subchondral bone only at the site that is loaded during physical exercise. At this site, calcium content and both HP and LP crosslink levels increased significantly less than in pasture-raised animals. During development from 5-11 months, measured parameters remained essentially constant, except for water content, which decreased further. It is concluded that substantial changes, presumed to be largely exercise-driven, take place during the normal process of development in the biochemical composition of equine subchondral bone. Normal development of subchondral bone is presumably important for the normal functional adaptation of this bone to the loading conditions it is subjected to and therefore essential to resist the future biomechanical challenges the horse will encounter during its athletic career. The findings from this study and the assumed important role of subchondral bone quality in the pathogenesis of osteochondral disease merit more attention to the role of the collagen network in subchondral bone.
Publication Date: 2002-03-22 PubMed ID: 11905435DOI: 10.2746/042516402776767150Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This study explorers the biochemical development of subchondral bone, which supports articular cartilage, during the first eleven months of a horse’s life and the impact of physical activity on that development. Findings revealed significant fluctuations in water and hydroxylysine levels, calcium and collagen content, and crosslinking amounts during early stages of development, especially when physical activity was restricted, suggesting that natural development in bone composition may be vital to the future biomechanical challenges a horse will face.
Plain Language Overview
The study delves into how the subchondral bone, which provides stable structure to the cartilage in joints, forms and evolves from birth until eleven months of age in horses. The research also observes how physical activity can influence the biochemical components of these bones. The findings can potentially provide insights into the development or treatment of osteochondral diseases in horses.
Understanding The Research
This research paper addresses the following key aspects:
- The study focuses on analyzing the water content, calcium content, and features of the collagen network (including crosslinking) of the subchondral bone during different development stages.
- Sampled foals included animals from newborn to 5-month-old (both pasture-raised and box-confined) and 11-month-old.
- The results showed a significant decrease in water and hydroxylysine content, while an increase in calcium and collagen content and crosslinking during the first 5 months after birth.
- The importance of physical activity during early stages of development was made evident as restricted movement led to less increase in calcium content and both types of crosslink levels.
- From 5 to 11 months, most parameters remained constant except for water content, which decreased further.
Implications of The Findings
- The study concludes that significant changes occur during the early development months of biochemical composition of subchondral bone, mostly driven by exercise.
- The normal development of this bone is assumed to be crucial for it to adapt to the condition of loading, which is necessary for the horse to withstand future biomechanical challenges during its athletic career.
- The assumed importance of subchondral bone quality in the pathogenesis of osteochondral disease suggests that researchers need to study more about the role of the collagen network in subchondral bone.
Cite This Article
APA
Brama PA, TeKoppele JM, Bank RA, Barneveld A, van Weeren PR.
(2002).
Biochemical development of subchondral bone from birth until age eleven months and the influence of physical activity.
Equine Vet J, 34(2), 143-149.
https://doi.org/10.2746/042516402776767150 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
MeSH Terms
- Amino Acids / metabolism
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn
- Bone Density
- Bone Development / physiology
- Bone and Bones / chemistry
- Bone and Bones / physiology
- Calcium / analysis
- Collagen / metabolism
- Horse Diseases / etiology
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses / growth & development
- Horses / physiology
- Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology
- Water / analysis
- Weight-Bearing
Citations
This article has been cited 6 times.- Yokoe T, Tajima T, Yamaguchi N, Morita Y, Chosa E. Fixation of an Osteochondral Lesion of the Femoral Intercondylar Groove Using Autogenous Osteochondral Grafts and Bioabsorbable Pins in a Patient with Open Physes: A Case Report.. Medicina (Kaunas) 2022 Oct 26;58(11).
- Ren P, Niu H, Cen H, Jia S, Gong H, Fan Y. Biochemical and Morphological Abnormalities of Subchondral Bone and Their Association with Cartilage Degeneration in Spontaneous Osteoarthritis.. Calcif Tissue Int 2021 Aug;109(2):179-189.
- Ren P, Niu H, Gong H, Zhang R, Fan Y. Morphological, biochemical and mechanical properties of articular cartilage and subchondral bone in rat tibial plateau are age related.. J Anat 2018 Mar;232(3):457-471.
- Hellings IR, Dolvik NI, Ekman S, Olstad K. Cartilage canals in the distal intermediate ridge of the tibia of fetuses and foals are surrounded by different types of collagen.. J Anat 2017 Oct;231(4):615-625.
- Wang CJ, Cheng JH, Chou WY, Hsu SL, Chen JH, Huang CY. Changes of articular cartilage and subchondral bone after extracorporeal shockwave therapy in osteoarthritis of the knee.. Int J Med Sci 2017;14(3):213-223.
- Noble P, Singer ER, Jeffery NS. Does subchondral bone of the equine proximal phalanx adapt to race training?. J Anat 2016 Jul;229(1):104-13.
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