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Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / Comparison of collagen fibril populations in the superficial...
Equine veterinary journal1997; 29(2); 121-125; doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1997.tb01653.x

Comparison of collagen fibril populations in the superficial digital flexor tendons of exercised and nonexercised thoroughbreds.

Abstract: This study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that collagen fibrils, the submicroscopic units of strength in tendon, would hypertrophy in response to a specific defined training programme. Fibril diameters were measured in central and peripheral regions of superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) samples from five 18-month-old horses which underwent a subsequent 18 month training programme and 6 age- and sex-matched controls. Central region fibrils from the trained horses had a mass-average diameter (MAD) of 105.3 nm, which was significantly lower (P < 0.01) than that of 131.7 nm for the same region in the control horses. This reduction in fibril diameter in the region of tendon which is predisposed to injury was interpreted as evidence of microtrauma, as it implies the region is weakened by the training regimen. Repeated episodes of microtrauma may accumulate and eventually result in degenerative lesions and clinical tendonitis.
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Publication Date: 1997-03-01 PubMed ID: 9104561DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1997.tb01653.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study
  • Journal Article
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support
  • 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.

The research paper studies whether a specific type of protein structure called collagen fibrils, which are the building blocks for tendon strength, increase in size in response to a defined exercise regimen, using thoroughbred horses as subjects. The research results suggest that the exercise program actually reduces the diameter of these fibrils in areas prone to injury, leading to the conclusion that repeated training may weaken these areas and cause degenerative injuries or tendonitis over time.

Study design and hypothesis

  • The authors aimed to study whether a specific kind of exercise can trigger a response in the collagen fibrils, which are known to provide strength to tendons.
  • This study consisted of two groups of horses; one that underwent an 18-month training regimen and another group of the same age and gender, serving as a control group, that did not undergo training.
  • The collagen fibrils in the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) in both the exercised and non-exercised horses were examined and compared.

Methodology and findings

  • The researchers measured the diameters of the collagen fibrils in central and peripheral regions of the SDFT in both groups.
  • The fibrils from the centre of the tendons in the horses that trained were found to have a lower average diameter than the fibrils in the same area in the non-exercised horses.

Interpretation and Conclusion

  • This difference in fibril diameter suggests that the region of the tendon which is prone to injury is weakened by the exercise program, as it was supposed to cause the fibrils to grow larger, but instead, they grew smaller.
  • The researchers interpret this as an indication of ‘microtrauma’ or small-scale damage accumulating over time.
  • They theorise that the repeated episodes of such microtrauma may lead to the development of degenerative lesions and clinical tendonitis.

Cite This Article

APA
Patterson-Kane JC, Wilson AM, Firth EC, Parry DA, Goodship AE. (1997). Comparison of collagen fibril populations in the superficial digital flexor tendons of exercised and nonexercised thoroughbreds. Equine Vet J, 29(2), 121-125. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.1997.tb01653.x

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 0425-1644
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 29
Issue: 2
Pages: 121-125

Researcher Affiliations

Patterson-Kane, J C
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
Wilson, A M
    Firth, E C
      Parry, D A
        Goodship, A E

          MeSH Terms

          • Aging / physiology
          • Animals
          • Collagen / analysis
          • Collagen / metabolism
          • Collagen / ultrastructure
          • Female
          • Horses / metabolism
          • Horses / physiology
          • Hypertrophy
          • Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology
          • Sex Characteristics
          • Tendons / chemistry
          • Tendons / metabolism
          • Tendons / physiology

          Citations

          This article has been cited 16 times.
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