Further characterisation of an experimental model of tendinopathy in the horse.
Abstract: Injuries in energy-storing tendons are common in both horses and man. The high prevalence of reinjury and the relatively poor prognosis for returning to preinjury performance levels warrant further research, for which well characterised models would be very helpful. Objective: Given the clinical similarities in tendinopathy of energy-storing tendons, we hypothesised that a recently developed experimental model of equine tendon injury would display many of the characteristics of clinical tendinopathy and could therefore be of use for both species, thus providing comparative insight to the human condition and offering direct potential impact to equine medicine. Methods: In vivo experimental study. Methods: Surgical lesions were created in the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) of 6 horses. Clinical examination, as well as biochemistry, histology and immunohistochemistry were performed on the harvested samples at 6 weeks post surgery. Results: Disrupted collagen fibres, increased glycosaminoglycan content, increased presence of tenocytes with plump nuclei, the scarcity of inflammatory cells, increased matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity and neovascularisation were observed and found to be consistent with clinical tendinopathy. Conclusions: This model displays the key features of the most common human and equine degenerative tendon disorders and is therefore an appropriate, if still imperfect, model of tendinopathy.
© 2012 EVJ Ltd.
Publication Date: 2013-02-28 PubMed ID: 23448172DOI: 10.1111/evj.12035Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This study is about developing an experimental model of tendinopathy, a common tendon disorder, in horses to provide a comparative insight into the condition’s prevalence in humans and the potentials for equine medicine. The model was based on surgically induced lesions on the superficial digital flexor tendon of six horses and is deemed appropriate despite some imperfections due to its resemblance to most common human and equine degenerative tendon disorders.
Objective of the Study
The study aims to:
- Expand on the understanding of tendinopathy, a common energy-storing tendon injury seen in both horses and humans, through the development of an experimental model.
- Test the hypothesis that the newly developed equine tendon injury model would exhibit features characteristic of clinical tendinopathy, essentially serving both species.
Methodology
The researchers employed the following sequence of methods:
- Surgical lesions were made on the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) of six horses as part of the in vivo experimental study. This tendon was chosen for its key role in the locomotion of horses and its similarity to human tendons.
- At six weeks post-surgery, harvested sample studies were conducted, encompassing the areas of clinical examination, biochemistry, histology, and immunohistochemistry.
Results
The experiment revealed results that corroborate clinical tendinopathy:
- Disrupted collagen fibres and increased glycosaminoglycan (substances that help maintain collagen and elastin flexibility) content were observed.
- There was an elevated presence of tenocytes with larger nuclei. Tenocytes are key cells that repair and maintain tendon structure.
- A scarcity of inflammatory cells was noted, implying the non-inflammatory nature of tendinopathy.
- Increased matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity, which is associated with tissue remodelling and degradation, was recorded.
- The researchers also found evidence of neovascularisation, indicating new blood vessel formation in the injured area.
Conclusion
The study concludes:
- The presented model replicates key features of the most common degenerative tendon disorders in both humans and horses. This makes it an appropriate, albeit imperfect, model of tendinopathy.
- The findings of the study contribute to both veterinary medical research and the understanding of human tendinopathies. Further development and optimization of the model could bring it closer to the perfect representation of this condition.
Cite This Article
APA
Cadby JA, David F, van de Lest C, Bosch G, van Weeren PR, Snedeker JG, van Schie HT.
(2013).
Further characterisation of an experimental model of tendinopathy in the horse.
Equine Vet J, 45(5), 642-648.
https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12035 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, The Netherlands. jennifer.cadby@gmail.com
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Collagen
- Female
- Glycosaminoglycans / metabolism
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Male
- Tendinopathy / diagnostic imaging
- Tendinopathy / metabolism
- Tendinopathy / pathology
- Tendinopathy / veterinary
- Tendons / cytology
- Tendons / metabolism
- Tendons / pathology
- Ultrasonography
Citations
This article has been cited 14 times.- Bowlby CM, Purmessur D, Durgam SS. Equine peripheral blood CD14(+) monocyte-derived macrophage in-vitro characteristics after GM-CSF pretreatment and LPS+IFN-γ or IL-4+IL-10 differentiation. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2023 Jan;255:110534.
- Koch DW, Berglund AK, Messenger KM, Gilbertie JM, Ellis IM, Schnabel LV. Interleukin-1β in tendon injury enhances reparative gene and protein expression in mesenchymal stem cells. Front Vet Sci 2022;9:963759.
- Gaesser AM, Underwood C, Linardi RL, Even KM, Reef VB, Shetye SS, Mauck RL, King WJ, Engiles JB, Ortved KF. Evaluation of Autologous Protein Solution Injection for Treatment of Superficial Digital Flexor Tendonitis in an Equine Model. Front Vet Sci 2021;8:697551.
- Oreff GL, Fenu M, Vogl C, Ribitsch I, Jenner F. Species variations in tenocytes' response to inflammation require careful selection of animal models for tendon research. Sci Rep 2021 Jun 14;11(1):12451.
- Depuydt E, Broeckx SY, Van Hecke L, Chiers K, Van Brantegem L, van Schie H, Beerts C, Spaas JH, Pille F, Martens A. The Evaluation of Equine Allogeneic Tenogenic Primed Mesenchymal Stem Cells in a Surgically Induced Superficial Digital Flexor Tendon Lesion Model. Front Vet Sci 2021;8:641441.
- Sánchez-Sánchez JL, Calderón-Díez L, Herrero-Turrión J, Méndez-Sánchez R, Arias-Buría JL, Fernández-de-Las-Peñas C. Changes in Gene Expression Associated with Collagen Regeneration and Remodeling of Extracellular Matrix after Percutaneous Electrolysis on Collagenase-Induced Achilles Tendinopathy in an Experimental Animal Model: A Pilot Study. J Clin Med 2020 Oct 15;9(10).
- Ribitsch I, Baptista PM, Lange-Consiglio A, Melotti L, Patruno M, Jenner F, Schnabl-Feichter E, Dutton LC, Connolly DJ, van Steenbeek FG, Dudhia J, Penning LC. Large Animal Models in Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Engineering: To Do or Not to Do. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020;8:972.
- van Vijven M, Wunderli SL, Ito K, Snedeker JG, Foolen J. Serum deprivation limits loss and promotes recovery of tenogenic phenotype in tendon cell culture systems. J Orthop Res 2021 Jul;39(7):1561-1571.
- Lawson A, Noorkoiv M, Masci L, Mohagheghi AA. Ankle Joint Position and the Reliability of Ultrasound Tissue Characterization of the Achilles Tendon: A Pilot Study. Med Sci Monit 2019 Sep 13;25:6884-6893.
- Biasutti S, Dart A, Smith M, Blaker C, Clarke E, Jeffcott L, Little C. Spatiotemporal variations in gene expression, histology and biomechanics in an ovine model of tendinopathy. PLoS One 2017;12(10):e0185282.
- Geburek F, Roggel F, van Schie HTM, Beineke A, Estrada R, Weber K, Hellige M, Rohn K, Jagodzinski M, Welke B, Hurschler C, Conrad S, Skutella T, van de Lest C, van Weeren R, Stadler PM. Effect of single intralesional treatment of surgically induced equine superficial digital flexor tendon core lesions with adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells: a controlled experimental trial. Stem Cell Res Ther 2017 Jun 5;8(1):129.
- Geburek F, Gaus M, van Schie HT, Rohn K, Stadler PM. Effect of intralesional platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment on clinical and ultrasonographic parameters in equine naturally occurring superficial digital flexor tendinopathies - a randomized prospective controlled clinical trial. BMC Vet Res 2016 Sep 7;12(1):191.
- Smith RK, Werling NJ, Dakin SG, Alam R, Goodship AE, Dudhia J. Beneficial effects of autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells in naturally occurring tendinopathy. PLoS One 2013;8(9):e75697.
- Little D, Amadio PC, Awad HA, Cone SG, Dyment NA, Fisher MB, Huang AH, Koch DW, Kuntz AF, Madi R, McGilvray K, Schnabel LV, Shetye SS, Thomopoulos S, Zhao C, Soslowsky LJ. Preclinical tendon and ligament models: Beyond the 3Rs (replacement, reduction, and refinement) to 5W1H (why, who, what, where, when, how). J Orthop Res 2023 Oct;41(10):2133-2162.
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