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European cells & materials2013; 26; 33-48; doi: 10.22203/ecm.v026a03

Foetal and postnatal equine articular cartilage development: magnetic resonance imaging and polarised light microscopy.

Abstract: Adult articular cartilage (AC) has a well described multizonal collagen structure. Knowledge of foetal AC organisation and development may provide a prototype for cartilage repair strategies, and improve understanding of structural changes in developmental diseases such as osteochondrosis (OC). The objective of this study was to describe normal development of the spatial architecture of the collagen network of equine AC using 1.5 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and polarised light microscopy (PLM), at sites employed for cartilage repair studies or susceptible to OC. T2-weighted fast-spin echo (FSE) sequences and PLM assessment were performed on distal femoral epiphyses of equine foetuses, foals and adults. Both MRI and PLM revealed an early progressive collagen network zonal organisation of the femoral epiphyses, beginning at 4 months of gestation. PLM revealed that the collagen network of equine foetal AC prior to birth was already organised into an evident anisotropic layered structure that included the appearance of a dense tangential zone in the superficial AC in the youngest specimens, with the progressive development of an underlying transitional zone. A third, increasingly birefringent, radial layer developed in the AC from 6 months of gestation. Four laminae were observed on the MR images in the last third of gestation. These included not only the AC but also the superficial growth plate of the epiphysis. These findings provide novel data on normal equine foetal cartilage collagen development, and may serve as a template for cartilage repair studies in this species or a model for developmental studies of OC.
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Publication Date: 2013-08-09 PubMed ID: 23934790DOI: 10.22203/ecm.v026a03Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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The research article primarily focuses on the study of the formation and organization of collagen networks in equine (horse) foetal and adult articular cartilage (AC) through the utilization of 1.5 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and polarised light microscopy (PLM). This understanding can aid in devising better cartilage repair strategies and the understanding of developmental diseases.

Study Objective and Methodology

  • The main objective of the study was to describe the normal progression and spatial architecture of the collagen network in equine AC, specifically in the distal femoral epiphyses (the rounded ends of the femur bone).
  • This was achieved using T2-weighted fast-spin echo (FSE) sequences with 1.5 T MRI and PLM assessment on samples from equine foetuses, foals, and adults.

Key Findings

  • Both MRI and PLM demonstrated a progressive development of collagen network zonal organisation in the femoral epiphyses, beginning as early as 4 months of gestation.
  • PLM revealed that the collagen network in equine foetal AC was already organized into a distinct anisotropic layered structure before birth, complete with the appearance of a dense tangential zone in the superficial AC in the youngest samples.
  • The progressive development of an underlying transitional zone was also observed. Additionally, a third, increasingly birefringent (light-refracting), radial layer became apparent in the AC from 6 months of gestation onwards.
  • In the final third of gestation, MRI images showed the emergence of four laminae (layers) which encompassed not only the AC, but also the superficial growth plate of the epiphysis.

Potential Implications

  • This investigation provides novel information about the normal development of equine foetal cartilage collagen, setting the foundations for future studies of repair strategies in this species.
  • This model could also support research into developmental studies of osteochondrosis (OC), a disease that affects AC development.

Cite This Article

APA
Cluzel C, Blond L, Fontaine P, Olive J, Laverty S. (2013). Foetal and postnatal equine articular cartilage development: magnetic resonance imaging and polarised light microscopy. Eur Cell Mater, 26, 33-48. https://doi.org/10.22203/ecm.v026a03

Publication

European cells & materials
ISSN: 1473-2262
NlmUniqueID: 100973416
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 26
Pages: 33-48

Researcher Affiliations

Cluzel, Caroline
  • Comparative Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Montreal, 3200 rue Sicotte, C. P. 5000, Saint-Hyacinthe, Q J2S 7C6, Canada.
Blond, Laurent
    Fontaine, Pascal
      Olive, Julien
        Laverty, Sheila

          MeSH Terms

          • Animals
          • Cartilage, Articular / anatomy & histology
          • Cartilage, Articular / embryology
          • Cartilage, Articular / growth & development
          • Collagen / ultrastructure
          • Epiphyses / anatomy & histology
          • Epiphyses / embryology
          • Epiphyses / growth & development
          • Fetus / anatomy & histology
          • Hip / embryology
          • Hip / growth & development
          • Horses
          • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
          • Microscopy, Polarization

          Citations

          This article has been cited 6 times.
          1. 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.
            doi: 10.1016/j.ocarto.2020.100029pubmed: 36474556google scholar: lookup
          2. Fugazzola MC, van Weeren PR. Surgical osteochondral defect repair in the horse-a matter of form or function?. Equine Vet J 2020 Jul;52(4):489-499.
            doi: 10.1111/evj.13231pubmed: 31958175google scholar: lookup
          3. Pinsard M, Laverty S, Richard H, Dubuc J, Schanne-Klein MC, Légaré F. Maturation of the Meniscal Collagen Structure Revealed by Polarization-Resolved and Directional Second Harmonic Generation Microscopy. Sci Rep 2019 Dec 5;9(1):18448.
            doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-54942-0pubmed: 31804577google scholar: lookup
          4. Couture CA, Bancelin S, Van der Kolk J, Popov K, Rivard M, Légaré K, Martel G, Richard H, Brown C, Laverty S, Ramunno L, Légaré F. The Impact of Collagen Fibril Polarity on Second Harmonic Generation Microscopy. Biophys J 2015 Dec 15;109(12):2501-2510.
            doi: 10.1016/j.bpj.2015.10.040pubmed: 26682809google scholar: lookup
          5. Löfgren M, Ekman S, Svala E, Lindahl A, Ley C, Skiöldebrand E. Cell and matrix modulation in prenatal and postnatal equine growth cartilage, zones of Ranvier and articular cartilage. J Anat 2014 Nov;225(5):548-68.
            doi: 10.1111/joa.12232pubmed: 25175365google scholar: lookup
          6. Księżarczyk MM, IJsseldijk LL, van Weeren PR, Levato R, Malda J. Age-dependent development and microarchitecture of the osteochondral unit of the humeral head in harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena). Sci Rep 2026 Feb 12;16(1).
            doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-39726-7pubmed: 41673214google scholar: lookup
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