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Journal of anatomy2017; 231(4); 615-625; doi: 10.1111/joa.12650

Cartilage canals in the distal intermediate ridge of the tibia of fetuses and foals are surrounded by different types of collagen.

Abstract: Some epiphyseal growth cartilage canals are surrounded by a ring of hypereosinophilic matrix consisting of collagen type I. Absence of the collagen type I ring may predispose canal vessels to failure and osteochondrosis, which can lead to fragments in joints (osteochondrosis dissecans). It is not known whether the ring develops in response to programming or biomechanical force. The distribution that may reveal the function of the ring has only been described in the distal femur of a limited number of foals. It is also not known which cells are responsible for producing the collagen ring. The aims of the current study were to examine fetuses and foals to infer whether the ring forms in response to biomechanical force or programming, to describe distribution and to investigate which cell type produces the ring. The material consisted of 46 fetuses and foals from 293 days of gestation to 142 days old, of both sexes and different breeds, divided into three groups, designated the naïve group up to and including the day of birth, the adapting group from 2 days up to and including 14 days old, and the loaded group from 15 days and older. The distal tibia was sawn into parasagittal slabs and the cranial half of the central slab from the intermediate ridge was examined by light microscopy and immunohistochemical staining for collagen type I. Presence, completeness and location of the collagen ring was compared, as was the quantity of perivascular mesenchymal cells. An eosinophilic ring present on HE-stained sections was seen in every single fetus and foal examined, which corresponded to collagen type I in immunostained sections. A higher proportion of cartilage canals were surrounded by an eosinophilic ring in the naïve and adapting groups at 73 and 76%, respectively, compared with the loaded group at 51%. When considering only patent canals, the proportion of canals with an eosinophilic ring was higher in the adapting and loaded than the naïve group of foals. The ring was present around 90 and 81% of patent canals in the deep and middle layers, respectively, compared with 58% in the superficial layer, and the ring was more often complete around deep compared with superficial canals. The ring was absent or partial around chondrifying canals. When an eosinophilic ring was present around patent canals, it was more common for the canal to contain one or more layers of perivascular mesenchymal cells rather than few to no layers. It was also more common for the collagen ring to be more complete around canals that contained many as opposed to few mesenchymal cells. In conclusion, the proportion of cartilage canals that had an eosinophilic ring was similar in all three groups of fetuses and foals, indicating that the presence of the collagen ring was mostly programmed, although some adaptation was evident. The ring was more often present around deep, compared with superficial canals, indicating a role in preparation for ossification. The collagen ring appeared to be produced by perivascular mesenchymal cells.
© 2017 The Authors. Journal of Anatomy published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Anatomical Society.
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Publication Date: 2017-06-15 PubMed ID: 28620929PubMed Central: PMC5603784DOI: 10.1111/joa.12650Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The study investigates the formation and distribution of collagen rings around cartilage canals in the tibia of fetuses and foals and suggests that these rings are mostly formed through genetic programming, but also show signs of adaptation. It also proposes that these rings seem to be produced by perivascular mesenchymal cells.

Objective and Methodology

  • The main objectives of the study were to examine foal and fetal tibia to determine whether collagen rings around cartilage canals form due to genetic programming or biomechanical force, and to identify which cells produce these rings.
  • The researchers studied three groups: the naïve group, born or just over birth, the adapting group, aged from to 14 days, and the loaded group, aged 15 days and older. These group classifications aimed to examine the collagen ring at different developmental stages.
  • The specific part of the tibia under examination was cut into slabs, and the cranial half of the central slab from the intermediate ridge was studied under a light microscope.
  • The method also utilized immunohistochemical staining, a technique used to identify specific cells, to examine collagen type I, the specific collagen found in the cartilage canals.

Findings

  • All fetuses and foals examined presented an eosinophilic ring in the cartilage canals, which corresponds with collagen type I. An eosinophilic ring refers to the eosin-positive substance that surrounds the vascular canals of cartilage, visible through particular stainings.
  • A higher proportion of cartilage canals across the naïve and adapting groups had an eosinophilic ring as compared to the loaded group, suggesting some adaptation in response to biomechanical forces as the foal matures and becomes more active.
  • This ring was present around 90% and 81% of patent (open) canals in the deep and middle layers but only 58% in the superficial (surface) layer, indicating a role of the ring in preparation for ossification, the process in which cartilage is transformed into bone.
  • The eosinophilic ring was less apparent or partial around chondrifying canals, canals that are turning into cartilage, demonstrating that the ring’s formation is linked with the canal’s maturity.
  • The presence of perivascular mesenchymal cells, cells capable of differentiating into a variety of cell types, was more common when an eosinophilic ring was present around patent canals. Moreover, the collagen ring was observed to be more complete surround canals containing larger amounts of mesenchymal cells.

Conclusion

  • The study concludes that the presence of the collagen ring is mostly genetically programmed, but also shows some adaptation to biomechanics, as revealed by the changes in the presence and completeness of the ring in different age groups.
  • The analysis also indicated that the collagen rings could be produced by perivascular mesenchymal cells, pointing to a potential cellular contributor behind this growth and maintenance mechanism in cartilage.

Cite This Article

APA
Hellings IR, Dolvik NI, Ekman S, Olstad K. (2017). Cartilage canals in the distal intermediate ridge of the tibia of fetuses and foals are surrounded by different types of collagen. J Anat, 231(4), 615-625. https://doi.org/10.1111/joa.12650

Publication

Journal of anatomy
ISSN: 1469-7580
NlmUniqueID: 0137162
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 231
Issue: 4
Pages: 615-625

Researcher Affiliations

Hellings, Ingunn Risnes
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Biosciences, Department of Companion Animal Clinical Sciences, Equine Section, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway.
Dolvik, Nils Ivar
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Biosciences, Department of Companion Animal Clinical Sciences, Equine Section, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway.
Ekman, Stina
  • Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Section of Pathology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
Olstad, Kristin
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Biosciences, Department of Companion Animal Clinical Sciences, Equine Section, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Cartilage / embryology
  • Cartilage / metabolism
  • Collagen / metabolism
  • Female
  • Horses / embryology
  • Horses / metabolism
  • Male
  • Tibia / embryology
  • Tibia / metabolism

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Van Cauter R, Serteyn D, Lejeune JP, Rousset A, Caudron I. Evaluation of the appearance of osteochondrosis lesions by two radiographic examinations in sport horses aged from 12 to 36 months. PLoS One 2023;18(5):e0286213.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0286213pubmed: 37220101google scholar: lookup
  2. Hendrickson EHS, Lykkjen S, Dolvik NI, Olstad K. Prevalence of osteochondral lesions in the fetlock and hock joints of Standardbred horses that survived bacterial infection before 6 months of age. BMC Vet Res 2018 Dec 10;14(1):390.
    doi: 10.1186/s12917-018-1726-3pubmed: 30526583google scholar: lookup
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