Changes in subchondral bone mineral density and collagen matrix organization in growing horses.
Abstract: The effects of growth and maturation on the mineral deposition and the collagen framework of equine subchondral bone (SCB) were studied. Methods: Osteochondral specimens (diameter 6 mm) from the left metacarpophalangeal joint of 5-(n=8), 11-(n=8) and 18-month-old (n=6) horses were investigated at two differently loaded sites (Site 1 (S1): intermittent peak loading; Site 2 (S2): habitual loading). The SCB mineral density (BMD) was measured with peripheral quantitative computer tomography (pQCT), and the data were adjusted against the volume fraction (Vv) of the bone extracellular matrix (ECM). Polarised light microscopy (PLM) was used to analyze the Vv, the collagen fibril parallelism index and the orientation angle distribution in two fractions (1 mm/fraction) beneath the osteochondral junction of the SCB. PLM analysis was made along two randomly selected perpendicularly oriented vertical sections to measure the tissue anisotropy in the x-, y-, and z-directions. Results: The BMD of SCB at S1 and S2 increased significantly during maturation. At the same time, the Vv of the ECM increased even more. This meant that the Vv-adjusted BMD decreased. There were no significant differences between sites. The basic collagen fibril framework of SCB seems to be established already at the age of 5 months. During maturation, the extracellular matrix underwent a decrease in collagen fibril parallelism but no changes in collagen orientation. The variation was negligible in the collagen network estimates in the two section planes. Conclusions: Growth and maturation induce significant changes in the equine SCB. The BMD increase in SCB is primarily due to the growth of bone volume and not to any increase in mineral deposition. An increase in weight-bearing appears to greatly affect the BMD and the volume of the extracellular matrix. Growth and maturation induce a striking change in collagen fibril parallelism but not in fibril orientation. The structural anisotropy of the subchondral bone is significant along the vertical (x-y) direction but not in the transversal (z) direction.
Publication Date: 2008-08-13 PubMed ID: 18757048DOI: 10.1016/j.bone.2008.07.254Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This study investigates how growth and maturation affect mineral deposition and collagen framework in the subchondral bone of horses, demonstrating significant changes especially in bone mineral density and collagen fibril parallelism.
Study Overview and Methods
- In this research, the team studied the effects of growth and maturity on the mineral deposition and collagen framework within the subchondral bone (SCB) of horses. The SCB is the layer of bone beneath the cartilage in a joint.
- The osteochondral specimens are taken from the left metacarpophalangeal joint of horses at different ages: 5 months (8 horses), 11 months (8 horses), and 18 months (6 horses).
- These specimens were studied at two distinct sites: one under intermittent peak loading (Site 1, S1) and the other under habitual loading (Site 2, S2).
- Researchers used peripheral quantitative computer tomography (pQCT) to measure the SCB mineral density (BMD), with the data adjusted against the volume fraction (Vv) of the bone extracellular matrix (ECM).
- Polarized light microscopy (PLM) was used to analyze the volume fraction, the collagen fibril parallelism index, and the orientation angle distribution beneath the osteochondral junction of the SCB.
Findings of the Study
- The BMD of SCB at both sites increased significantly during maturation. However, the volume fraction of the ECM increased even more, causing a decrease in Vv-adjusted BMD.
- No significant differences were found between the two different loading sites (S1 and S2).
- The basic collagen fibril framework of SCB seemed to be established by the age of 5 months. Over time, the matrix displayed a decrease in collagen fibril parallelism, but no changes in collagen orientation.
Conclusions and Implications
- Growth and maturity were found to cause considerable changes in equine SCB. Specifically, the increase in BMD in SCB is primarily due to the growth of bone volume and not to any increase in mineral deposit.
- Further, weight-bearing appears to significantly affect both the bone mineral density and the volume of the extracellular matrix.
- The researchers also noted that growth and maturation induce considerable changes in collagen fibril parallelism, whereas no alterations in fibril orientation were observed. This suggests that the structural anisotropy of the subchondral bone is significant along the vertical direction but not in the transversal direction.
Cite This Article
APA
Holopainen JT, Brama PA, Halmesmäki E, Harjula T, Tuukkanen J, van Weeren PR, Helminen HJ, Hyttinen MM.
(2008).
Changes in subchondral bone mineral density and collagen matrix organization in growing horses.
Bone, 43(6), 1108-1114.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bone.2008.07.254 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Kuopio, Finland.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Bone Density
- Cartilage / growth & development
- Cartilage / metabolism
- Horses / growth & development
- Horses / metabolism
- Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Citations
This article has been cited 9 times.- Luo P, Yuan QL, Yang M, Wan X, Xu P. The role of cells and signal pathways in subchondral bone in osteoarthritis.. Bone Joint Res 2023 Sep 8;12(9):536-545.
- Dorraki M, Muratovic D, Fouladzadeh A, Verjans JW, Allison A, Findlay DM, Abbott D. Hip osteoarthritis: A novel network analysis of subchondral trabecular bone structures.. PNAS Nexus 2022 Nov;1(5):pgac258.
- Choe R, Devoy E, Kuzemchak B, Sherry M, Jabari E, Packer JD, Fisher JP. Computational investigation of interface printing patterns within 3D printed multilayered scaffolds for osteochondral tissue engineering.. Biofabrication 2022 Feb 23;14(2).
- Logerstedt DS, Ebert JR, MacLeod TD, Heiderscheit BC, Gabbett TJ, Eckenrode BJ. Effects of and Response to Mechanical Loading on the Knee.. Sports Med 2022 Feb;52(2):201-235.
- Logan AA, Nielsen BD. Training Young Horses: The Science behind the Benefits.. Animals (Basel) 2021 Feb 9;11(2).
- Zheng W, Ding B, Li X, Liu D, Yokota H, Zhang P. Knee loading repairs osteoporotic osteoarthritis by relieving abnormal remodeling of subchondral bone via Wnt/β-catenin signaling.. FASEB J 2020 Feb;34(2):3399-3412.
- Dingemanse W, Müller-Gerbl M, Jonkers I, Sloten JV, van Bree H, Gielen I. A prospective follow up of age related changes in the subchondral bone density of the talus of healthy Labrador Retrievers.. BMC Vet Res 2017 Feb 20;13(1):57.
- 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.
- Li G, Yin J, Gao J, Cheng TS, Pavlos NJ, Zhang C, Zheng MH. Subchondral bone in osteoarthritis: insight into risk factors and microstructural changes.. Arthritis Res Ther 2013;15(6):223.
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