Cartilage matrix changes in the developing epiphysis: early events on the pathway to equine osteochondrosis?
Abstract: The earliest osteochondrosis (OC) microscopic lesion reported in the literature was present in the femorotibial joint of a 2-day-old foal suggesting that OC lesions and factors initiating them may arise prior to birth. Objective: To examine the developing equine epiphysis to detect histological changes that could be precursors to OC lesions. Methods: Osteochondral samples from 21 equine fetuses and 13 foals were harvested from selected sites in the scapulohumeral, humeroradial, metacarpophalangeal, femoropatellar, femorotibial, tarsocrural and metatarsophalangeal joints. Sections were stained with safranin O and picrosiruis red to assess cartilage changes and structural arrangement of the collagen matrix. Results: Extracellular matrix changes observed included perivascular areas of paleness of the proteoglycan matrix associated with hypocellularity and, sometimes, necrotic chondrocytes. These changes were most abundant in the youngest fetuses and in the femoropatellar/femorotibial (FP/FT) joints. Indentations of the ossification front were also observed in most specimens, but, most frequently, in scapulohumeral and FP/FT joints. A cartilage canal was almost always present in these indentations. The vascular density of the cartilage was higher in the youngest fetuses. In these fetuses, the most vascularised joints were the metacarpo- and metatarsophalangeal joints but their cartilage canals regressed quickly. After birth, the most vascularised cartilage was present in the FP/FT joint. Articular cartilage differentiated into 4 zones early in fetal life and the epiphyseal cartilage also had a distinct zonal cartilage structure. A striking difference was observed in the collagen structure at the junction of the proliferative and hypertrophic zones where OCD lesions occur. Conclusions: Matrix and ossification front changes were frequently observed and significantly associated with cartilage canals suggesting that they may be physiological changes associated with matrix remodelling and development. The collagen structure was variable through the growing epiphysis and a differential in biomechanical properties at focal sites may predispose them to injury.
Publication Date: 2008-05-20 PubMed ID: 18487100DOI: 10.2746/042516408X297453Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This study examines early changes in the cartilage matrix of developing equine fetuses and foals as part of an effort to better understand the earliest stages of osteochondrosis (OC) in horses. The findings suggest the earliest changes associated with OC might occur prior to birth, possibly influencing the development of OC lesions, and that differences in collagen structure during development may make certain areas more prone to injury.
Methods and Experimentation
- The study was conducted using osteochondral samples extracted from 21 equine fetuses and 13 foals. The samples were taken from various joints, including the humeroradial, femoropatellar, femorotibial, tarsocrural and metatarsophalangeal joints.
- The collected samples were then stained using safranin O and picrosirius red, which enabled the researchers to assess changes in cartilage and the structural arrangement of the collagen matrix, thus identifying possible precursors to OC lesions.
Key Findings
- Extracellular matrix changes were observed, including areas of paleness around blood vessels, less cellular activity and, in some cases, dead chondrocytes. These changes were most often encountered in the youngest fetuses and femoropatellar/femorotibial joints.
- The researchers also found indentations of the ossification front in most samples, with the majority found in the scapulohumeral and femoropatellar/femorotibial joints. A cartilage canal was nearly always present in these indentations.
- The vascular density of the cartilage was higher in young fetuses, particularly in the metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints, although their cartilage canals regressed quickly after birth.
- Notably, the structure of collagen varied in different areas of the growing epiphysis. A striking difference was noted at the junction between the proliferative and hypertrophic zones where osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) lesions occur.
Conclusion
- The frequent appearance of extracellular matrix and ossification front changes in conjunction with cartilage canals suggest that these could be physiological changes connected with matrix remodeling and development.
- The varying collagen structure throughout the epiphysis, thus causing differing biomechanical properties at certain sites, may predispose them to injury and ultimately the development of OC.
Cite This Article
APA
Lecocq M, Girard CA, Fogarty U, Beauchamp G, Richard H, Laverty S.
(2008).
Cartilage matrix changes in the developing epiphysis: early events on the pathway to equine osteochondrosis?
Equine Vet J, 40(5), 442-454.
https://doi.org/10.2746/042516408X297453 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Département de sciences cliniques, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Québec, Canada.
MeSH Terms
- Aging
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn
- Cartilage, Articular / blood supply
- Cartilage, Articular / embryology
- Cartilage, Articular / pathology
- Female
- Growth Plate / blood supply
- Growth Plate / embryology
- Growth Plate / pathology
- Horse Diseases / embryology
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses / embryology
- Horses / growth & development
- Joints / blood supply
- Joints / embryology
- Joints / pathology
- Male
- Osteochondritis / embryology
- Osteochondritis / pathology
- Osteochondritis / veterinary
- Regional Blood Flow
- Tarsus, Animal / blood supply
- Tarsus, Animal / embryology
- Tarsus, Animal / pathology
- Tibia / blood supply
- Tibia / embryology
- Tibia / pathology
Citations
This article has been cited 13 times.- 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.
- Lemirre T, Santschi E, Girard C, Fogarty U, Chapuis L, Richard H, Beauchamp G, Laverty S. Maturation of the equine medial femoral condyle osteochondral unit.. Osteoarthr Cartil Open 2020 Mar;2(1):100029.
- Bourebaba L, Röcken M, Marycz K. Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) in Horses - Molecular Background of its Pathogenesis and Perspectives for Progenitor Stem Cell Therapy.. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2019 Jun;15(3):374-390.
- Haysom SS, Vickers MH, Yu LH, Reynolds CM, Firth EC, McGlashan SR. Post-weaning high-fat diet results in growth cartilage lesions in young male rats.. PLoS One 2017;12(11):e0188411.
- Lim CK, Hawkins JF, Vanderpool AL, Heng HG, Gillespie Harmon CC, Lenz SD. Osteochondritis dissecans-like lesions of the occipital condyle and cervical articular process joints in a Saddlebred colt horse.. Acta Vet Scand 2017 Oct 30;59(1):76.
- Finnøy A, Olstad K, Lilledahl MB. Non-linear optical microscopy of cartilage canals in the distal femur of young pigs may reveal the cause of articular osteochondrosis.. BMC Vet Res 2017 Aug 22;13(1):270.
- 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.
- Hellings IR, Ekman S, Hultenby K, Dolvik NI, Olstad K. Discontinuities in the endothelium of epiphyseal cartilage canals and relevance to joint disease in foals.. J Anat 2016 Jan;228(1):162-75.
- Mendoza L, Piquemal D, Lejeune JP, Vander Heyden L, Noguier F, Bruno R, Sandersen C, Serteyn D. Age-dependent expression of osteochondrosis-related genes in equine leukocytes.. Vet Rec Open 2015;2(1):e000058.
- Tóth F, Nissi MJ, Ellermann JM, Wang L, Shea KG, Polousky J, Carlson CS. Novel Application of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Demonstrates Characteristic Differences in Vasculature at Predilection Sites of Osteochondritis Dissecans.. Am J Sports Med 2015 Oct;43(10):2522-7.
- Desjardin C, Vaiman A, Mata X, Legendre R, Laubier J, Kennedy SP, Laloe D, Barrey E, Jacques C, Cribiu EP, Schibler L. Next-generation sequencing identifies equine cartilage and subchondral bone miRNAs and suggests their involvement in osteochondrosis physiopathology.. BMC Genomics 2014 Sep 17;15(1):798.
- McCoy AM, Toth F, Dolvik NI, Ekman S, Ellermann J, Olstad K, Ytrehus B, Carlson CS. Articular osteochondrosis: a comparison of naturally-occurring human and animal disease.. Osteoarthritis Cartilage 2013 Nov;21(11):1638-47.
- Thorpe SD, Nagel T, Carroll SF, Kelly DJ. Modulating gradients in regulatory signals within mesenchymal stem cell seeded hydrogels: a novel strategy to engineer zonal articular cartilage.. PLoS One 2013;8(4):e60764.
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