Influence of site and age on biochemical characteristics of the collagen network of equine articular cartilage.
Abstract: To determine variations in biochemical characteristics of equine articular cartilage in relation to age and the degree of predisposition for osteochondral disease at a specific site. Methods: Articular cartilage specimens from 53 horses 4 to 30 years old. Methods: Healthy specimens were obtained from 2 locations on the proximal articular surface of the first phalanx that had different disease prevalences (site 1 at the mediodorsal margin and site 2 at the center of the medial cavity). Water, total collagen, and hydroxylysine contents and enzymatic (hydroxylysylpyridinoline [HP]) and nonenzymatic (pentosidine) crosslinking were determined at both sites. Differences between sites were analyzed by ANOVA (factors, site, and age), and age correlation was tested by Pearson's product-moment correlation analysis. Significance was set at P< 0.01. Results: Correlation with age was not found for water, collagen, hydroxylysine contents, and enzymatic cross-linking. Nonenzymatic crosslinking was higher in older horses and was linearly related to age (r = 0.94). Water and collagen contents and HP and pentosidine crosslinks were significantly higher at site 1. Hydroxylysine content was significantly lower at site 1. Conclusions: Except for nonenzymatic glycation, the composition of articular cartilage collagen does not change significantly in adult horses. A significant topographic variation exists in biochemical characteristics of the articular cartilage collagen network in equine metacarpophalangeal joints. These differences may influence local biomechanical properties and, hence, susceptibility to osteochondral disease, as will greater pentosidine crosslinks in older horses that are likely to cause stiffer and more brittle cartilage.
Publication Date: 1999-04-03 PubMed ID: 10188817
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- Journal Article
- Age Factors
- Articular Cartilage
- Biochemistry
- Clinical Study
- Collagen
- Correlation Analysis
- Diagnosis
- Disease Diagnosis
- Disease Etiology
- Disease Prevalence
- Disease Treatment
- Enzymes
- Equine Diseases
- Equine Health
- Equine Studies
- Horses
- Metacarpophalangeal Joint
- Osteochondrosis
- Pathophysiology
- Physiology
- Veterinary Research
Summary
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The research focuses on the variation in biochemical characteristics of the collagen network in the articular cartilage of horses based on age and site, specifically examining the influence of these factors on the predisposition towards osteochondral disease, a common joint disease in horses.
Research Method
- The study gathered articular cartilage specimens from 53 horses varying in age from 4 to 30 years. The samples were obtained from two distinct locations on the proximal articular surface of the first phalanx. These sites were selected because of their differing vulnerability to disease.
- The researchers analyzed the water, collagen, and hydroxylysine contents of the specimens. They also examined the enzymatic (hydroxylysylpyridinoline [HP]) and nonenzymatic (pentosidine) crosslinking at both sites.
- The researchers used ANOVA to compare differences between the sites, considering both site and age as factors. They tested the correlation with age using Pearson’s product-moment correlation analysis, with significance set at P< 0.01.
Key Findings
- The study did not find any correlation between age and the content of water, collagen, and hydroxylysine, or the enzymatic cross-linking in the cartilage samples.
- However, they found that nonenzymatic crosslinking (pentosidine) increased with age, showing a linear relationship (r = 0.94).
- Compared to site 2, site 1 demonstrated significantly higher levels of water, collagen, and HP and pentosidine crosslinks, while its hydroxylysine content was significantly lower. This indicates a variation in the biochemical characteristics of the articular cartilage collagen network between different locations in the equine metacarpophalangeal joints.
Conclusion
- The researchers concluded that the composition of articular cartilage collagen does not change significantly with age, with the exception of nonenzymatic glycation.
- They also found significant variations in the biochemical characteristics of the articular cartilage collagen network between different locations in the equine metacarpophalangeal joints. These variations may influence the biomechanical properties of the collagen network, affecting the horse’s susceptibility to osteochondral disease.
Cite This Article
APA
Brama PA, TeKoppele JM, Bank RA, van Weeren PR, Barneveld A.
(1999).
Influence of site and age on biochemical characteristics of the collagen network of equine articular cartilage.
Am J Vet Res, 60(3), 341-345.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of General and Large Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
MeSH Terms
- Aging / metabolism
- Animals
- Cartilage, Articular / metabolism
- Collagen / metabolism
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses / anatomy & histology
- Horses / metabolism
- Osteochondritis / pathology
- Osteochondritis / veterinary
- Protein Processing, Post-Translational
Citations
This article has been cited 7 times.- Holland C, Vollrath F, Gill HS. Horses and cows might teach us about human knees. Naturwissenschaften 2014 Apr;101(4):351-4.
- Xia Y. MRI of articular cartilage at microscopic resolution. Bone Joint Res 2013 Jan;2(1):9-17.
- 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.
- Hyttinen MM, Holopainen J, van Weeren PR, Firth EC, Helminen HJ, Brama PA. Changes in collagen fibril network organization and proteoglycan distribution in equine articular cartilage during maturation and growth. J Anat 2009 Nov;215(5):584-91.
- Mienaltowski MJ, Huang L, Stromberg AJ, MacLeod JN. Differential gene expression associated with postnatal equine articular cartilage maturation. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2008 Nov 5;9:149.
- Ross JM, Sherwin AF, Poole CA. In vitro culture of enzymatically isolated chondrons: a possible model for the initiation of osteoarthritis. J Anat 2006 Dec;209(6):793-806.
- Eckstein F, Hudelmaier M, Putz R. The effects of exercise on human articular cartilage. J Anat 2006 Apr;208(4):491-512.
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