Influence of exercise and joint topography on depth-related spatial distribution of proteoglycan and collagen content in immature equine articular cartilage.
Abstract: There is ample evidence on topographical heterogeneity of the principal biochemical components of articular cartilage over the surface of the joint and the influence of loading thereon, but no information on depth-related zonal variation in horses. Objective: To study depth-related zonal variation in proteoglycan (PG) and collagen content in equine articular cartilage. Methods: Two techniques (safranin-O densitometry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy) were applied to sections of articular cartilage from the proximal phalangeal bone of the metacarpophalangeal joint of 18-month-old Thoroughbreds that had been raised at pasture from age 0-18 months without (PASTEX) and with (CONDEX) additional exercise. Two sites were investigated: site 1 at the joint margin that is unloaded at rest or at slow gaits, but subjected to high-intensity loading during athletic activity; and site 2, a continuously, but less intensively, loaded site in the centre of the joint. Results: Proteoglycan values increased from the surface to the deep layers of the cartilage, collagen content showed a reverse pattern. PG content was significantly higher at site 2 in both PASTEX and CONDEX animals without an effect of exercise. In the PASTEX animals collagen content was significantly higher at site 1, but in the CONDEX group the situation was reversed, due to a significant exercise effect on site 1, leading to a reduced collagen content. Conclusions: Collagen and PG content gradients agree with findings in other species. The observations on PG levels suggest that the exercise level was not strenuous. The collagen results in the PASTEX group confirmed earlier findings, the lower levels at site 1 in the CONDEX group being possibly due to an advancement of the physiological maturation process of collagen remodelling. Conclusions: This study confirms earlier observations that even moderate variations in exercise level in early age may have significant effects on the collagen network of articular cartilage.
Publication Date: 2009-10-07 PubMed ID: 19803051DOI: 10.2746/042516409x424162Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Controlled Clinical Trial
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research paper delves into the variation of proteoglycan and collagen content in the articular cartilage of young horses based on the depth and the level of activity. The study finds that the content of these components varies with the loading intensity of the joint and the influence of exercise. Hence, these factors can have significant effects on the collagen network of the cartilage.
Research Methodology
- The study used two techniques – safranin-O densitometry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy – to examine the sections of articular cartilage from the metacarpophalangeal joint of 18-month-old Thoroughbreds.
- These horses had been raised in fields from age 0 to 18 months, both with and without additional exercise, creating two separate groups: PASTEX (pasture exercise) and CONDEX (controlled exercise).
- Two sites on the horses’ joints were investigated – Site 1, which remains unloaded at rest or slow gaits but comes under high-intensity loading during athletic activity, and Site 2, which is consistently loaded but with less intensity.
Research Findings
- The proteoglycan values increased from the surface to the deeper layers of the cartilage, while the collagen showed a reverse pattern.
- The proteoglycan content was significantly higher at Site 2 in both PASTEX and CONDEX animals, indicating that it was unaffected by exercise.
- In the PASTEX group, collagen content was significantly higher at Site 1, however in the CONDEX group, the situation was reversed due to a significant decrease in collagen content at site 1 because of exercise.
Conclusion
- Findings regarding collagen and proteoglycan content gradients correspond with results in other species.
- The study suggested that the exercise level was not strenuous given the observed proteoglycan levels.
- The research confirmed earlier findings about the effects of variations in exercise levels on the collagen network of articular cartilage, even in early age. Less collagen at Site 1 in the CONDEX group possibly indicated an advancement in the physiological maturation process of collagen remodeling.
Cite This Article
APA
Brama PA, Holopainen J, van Weeren PR, Firth EC, Helminen HJ, Hyttinen MM.
(2009).
Influence of exercise and joint topography on depth-related spatial distribution of proteoglycan and collagen content in immature equine articular cartilage.
Equine Vet J, 41(6), 557-563.
https://doi.org/10.2746/042516409x424162 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Section of Veterinary Surgery, School of Agriculture, Food Science & Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
MeSH Terms
- Aging
- Animals
- Cartilage, Articular / physiology
- Collagen / metabolism
- Densitometry
- Female
- Forelimb
- Horses / physiology
- Joints / anatomy & histology
- Male
- Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology
- Proteoglycans / metabolism
- Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
Citations
This article has been cited 8 times.- Yamada ALM, Pinheiro M, Marsiglia MF, Hagen SCF, Baccarin RYA, da Silva LCLC. Ultrasound and clinical findings in the metacarpophalangeal joint assessment of show jumping horses in training. J Vet Sci 2020 May;21(3):e21.
- Barendregt AM, Mazzoli V, van den Berg JM, Kuijpers TW, Maas M, Nederveen AJ, Hemke R. T(1ρ)-mapping for assessing knee joint cartilage in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis - feasibility and repeatability. Pediatr Radiol 2020 Mar;50(3):371-379.
- Stewart HL, Kawcak CE. The Importance of Subchondral Bone in the Pathophysiology of Osteoarthritis. Front Vet Sci 2018;5:178.
- Lee JH, Badar F, Kahn D, Matyas J, Qu X, Xia Y. Loading-induced changes on topographical distributions of the zonal properties of osteoarthritic tibial cartilage--A study by magnetic resonance imaging at microscopic resolution. J Biomech 2015 Oct 15;48(13):3625-33.
- Lee JH, Badar F, Kahn D, Matyas J, Qu X, Chen CT, Xia Y. Topographical variations of the strain-dependent zonal properties of tibial articular cartilage by microscopic MRI. Connect Tissue Res 2014 Jun;55(3):205-16.
- Malda J, de Grauw JC, Benders KE, Kik MJ, van de Lest CH, Creemers LB, Dhert WJ, van Weeren PR. Of mice, men and elephants: the relation between articular cartilage thickness and body mass. PLoS One 2013;8(2):e57683.
- Hanifi A, Bi X, Yang X, Kavukcuoglu B, Lin PC, DiCarlo E, Spencer RG, Bostrom MP, Pleshko N. Infrared fiber optic probe evaluation of degenerative cartilage correlates to histological grading. Am J Sports Med 2012 Dec;40(12):2853-61.
- Julkunen P, Halmesmäki EP, Iivarinen J, Rieppo L, Närhi T, Marjanen J, Rieppo J, Arokoski J, Brama PA, Jurvelin JS, Helminen HJ. Effects of growth and exercise on composition, structural maturation and appearance of osteoarthritis in articular cartilage of hamsters. J Anat 2010 Sep;217(3):262-74.
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