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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Anat / Changes in collagen fibril network organization and proteogl...
Journal of anatomy2009; 215(5); 584-591; doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7580.2009.01140.x

Changes in collagen fibril network organization and proteoglycan distribution in equine articular cartilage during maturation and growth.

Abstract: The aim of this study was to record growth-related changes in collagen network organization and proteoglycan distribution in intermittently peak-loaded and continuously lower-level-loaded articular cartilage. Cartilage from the proximal phalangeal bone of the equine metacarpophalangeal joint at birth, at 5, 11 and 18 months, and at 6-10 years of age was collected from two sites. Site 1, at the joint margin, is unloaded at slow gaits but is subjected to high-intensity loading during athletic activity; site 2 is a continuously but less intensively loaded site in the centre of the joint. The degree of collagen parallelism was determined with quantitative polarized light microscopy and the parallelism index for collagen fibrils was computed from the cartilage surface to the osteochondral junction. Concurrent changes in the proteoglycan distribution were quantified with digital densitometry. We found that the parallelism index increased significantly with age (up to 90%). At birth, site 2 exhibited a more organized collagen network than site 1. In adult horses this situation was reversed. The superficial and intermediate zones exhibited the greatest reorganization of collagen. Site 1 had a higher proteoglycan content than site 2 at birth but here too the situation was reversed in adult horses. We conclude that large changes in joint loading during growth and maturation in the period from birth to adulthood profoundly affect the architecture of the collagen network in equine cartilage. In addition, the distribution and content of proteoglycans are modified significantly by altered joint use. Intermittent peak-loading with shear seems to induce higher collagen parallelism and a lower proteoglycan content in cartilage than more constant weight-bearing. Therefore, we hypothesize that the formation of mature articular cartilage with a highly parallel collagen network and relatively low proteoglycan content in the peak-loaded area of a joint is needed to withstand intermittent stress and shear, whereas a constantly weight-bearing joint area benefits from lower collagen parallelism and a higher proteoglycan content.
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Publication Date: 2009-08-27 PubMed ID: 19732210PubMed Central: PMC2780575DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7580.2009.01140.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
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  • Non-U.S. Gov't

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.

This study investigates how the collagen network (a key component for cartilage strength) and the distribution of proteoglycans (molecules that make up the cartilage) in horse joints change as the animals grow and mature. The research suggests that different types of stress on the joints, whether intermittent high-intensity or constant lower-level load, significantly impact the organization of these components in the cartilage.

Study Overview and Methodology

  • The research was conducted to understand the changes in the collagen network and the distribution of proteoglycans in horse articular cartilage during maturation and growth.
  • The researchers collected cartilage from the proximal phalangeal bone of horse joints at different ages – newborn, 5 months, 11 months, 18 months, and adult (6-10 years).
  • They examined two sites on the bone – Site 1 at the joint margin, experiences high-intensity loading during athletic activity but is unloaded otherwise, and Site 2, at the center of the joint, is continuously subjected to less intense loading.
  • They used quantitative polarized light microscopy to determine the degree of collagen parallelism and digital densitometry for quantifying the changes in proteoglycan distribution.

Findings

  • The investigation found that the index measuring the parallelism of collagen fibrils significantly increased with the horse’s age, with an increase of up to 90%.
  • At birth, Site 2 had a more organized collagen network than Site 1. However, this was reversed in adult horses.
  • Most extensive collagen reorganization occurred in the superficial and intermediate zones of the cartilage, these are the areas of the cartilage closest to the surface and middle respectively.
  • As for proteoglycan distribution, Site 1 had a higher content at birth, but in adult horses, Site 2 demonstrated a higher content.

Conclusions

  • The study concluded that changes in joint loading from birth to adulthood significantly affect the collagen network in horse cartilage. Additionally, altered joint use significantly modulates the distribution and content of proteoglycans.
  • Intermittent high-intensity loading (like in Site 1) seems to lead to higher collagen parallelism and lower proteoglycan content than more constant lower-level loading (like in Site 2).
  • Therefore, the researchers hypothesize that adult horse joints adapt to the type of loading they experience: intermittent stress-induced areas developing highly parallel collagen networks with low proteoglycan content for strength, and constant weight-bearing areas having lower collagen parallelism but higher proteoglycan content for durability and resilience.

Cite This Article

APA
Hyttinen MM, Holopainen J, van Weeren PR, Firth EC, Helminen HJ, Brama PA. (2009). Changes in collagen fibril network organization and proteoglycan distribution in equine articular cartilage during maturation and growth. J Anat, 215(5), 584-591. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7580.2009.01140.x

Publication

Journal of anatomy
ISSN: 1469-7580
NlmUniqueID: 0137162
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 215
Issue: 5
Pages: 584-591

Researcher Affiliations

Hyttinen, Mika M
  • Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland.
Holopainen, Jaakko
    van Weeren, P René
      Firth, Elwyn C
        Helminen, Heikki J
          Brama, Pieter A J

            MeSH Terms

            • Aging / metabolism
            • Animals
            • Cartilage, Articular / anatomy & histology
            • Cartilage, Articular / growth & development
            • Cartilage, Articular / metabolism
            • Fibrillar Collagens
            • Horses / anatomy & histology
            • Horses / growth & development
            • Horses / metabolism
            • Metacarpophalangeal Joint / anatomy & histology
            • Metacarpophalangeal Joint / growth & development
            • Metacarpophalangeal Joint / metabolism
            • Microscopy, Polarization / methods
            • Proteoglycans / metabolism
            • Weight-Bearing / physiology

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