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Home / Equine Research Bank / Cartilage / Non-invasive Electroarthrography Measures Load-Induced Carti...
Cartilage2020; 13(2_suppl); 375S-385S; doi: 10.1177/1947603520928583

Non-invasive Electroarthrography Measures Load-Induced Cartilage Streaming Potentials via Electrodes Placed on Skin Surrounding an Articular Joint.

Abstract: We aimed to demonstrate that electroarthrography (EAG) measures streaming potentials originating in the cartilage extracellular matrix during load bearing through electrodes adhered to skin surrounding an articular joint. Equine metacarpophalangeal joints were subjected to simulated physiological loads while (1) replacing synovial fluid with immersion buffers of different electrolyte concentrations and (2) directly degrading cartilage with trypsin. An inverse relationship between ionic strength and EAG coefficient was detected. Compared to native synovial fluid, EAG coefficients increased ( < 0.05) for 5 of 6 electrodes immersed in 0.1X phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) (0.014 M NaCl), decreased ( < 0.05) for 4 of 6 electrodes in 1X PBS (0.14 M NaCl), and decreased ( < 0.05) for all 6 electrodes in 10X PBS (1.4 M NaCl). This relationship corresponds to similar studies where streaming potentials were directly measured on cartilage. EAG coefficients, obtained after trypsin degradation, were reduced ( < 0.05) in 6 of 8, and 7 of 8 electrodes, during simulated standing and walking, respectively. Trypsin degradation was confirmed by direct cartilage assessments. Streaming potentials, measured by directly contacting cartilage, indicated lower cartilage stiffness ( < 10). Unconfined compression data revealed reduced Em, representing proteoglycan matrix stiffness ( = 0.005), no change in Ef, representing collagen network stiffness ( = 0.15), and no change in permeability ( = 0.24). Trypsin depleted proteoglycan as observed by both dimethylmethylene blue assay ( = 0.0005) and safranin-O stained histological sections. These data show that non-invasive EAG detects streaming potentials produced by cartilage during joint compression and has potential to become a diagnostic tool capable of detecting early cartilage degeneration.
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Publication Date: 2020-06-05 PubMed ID: 32500724PubMed Central: PMC8804767DOI: 10.1177/1947603520928583Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • 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 article focuses on a study that proves that Electroarthrography (EAG) can measure streaming potentials in cartilage during load bearing through electrodes placed on the skin near the joints.

Methodology

  • Metacarpophalangeal joints from horses were exposed to simulated physiological loads.
  • Simulations were done under various conditions such as different electrolyte concentrations and directly degrading the cartilage with trypsin.
  • Streaming potentials were then measured, primarily focusing on changes in EAG coefficient values.

Result

  • An inverse relationship was observed between ionic strength and the EAG coefficient.
  • EAG coefficients increased for 5 of 6 electrodes immersed in 0.1X phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) (0.014 M NaCl)
  • Decreased for 4 of 6 electrodes in 1X PBS (0.14 M NaCl), and decreased for all 6 electrodes in 10X PBS (1.4 M NaCl).
  • EAG coefficients were reduced in electrodes after trypsin degradation during simulated standing and walking.

Significance of Findings

  • These results correlate with previous studies where streaming potentials were directly measured on cartilage.
  • The lowering of cartilage stiffness as indicated by the streaming potentials measured from the direct contact of cartilage.
  • Minimal changes in collagen network stiffness and permeability.
  • The degradation of proteoglycans, which were observed in both dimethylmethylene blue assay and safranin-O stained histological sections, resulted from the action of trypsin.

Conclusions

  • The findings from this study suggest that non-invasive EAG is capable of detecting streaming potentials produced by cartilage during joint compression.
  • This opens up the potential of EAG as a diagnostic tool that can be utilized for early detection of cartilage degeneration.

Cite This Article

APA
Changoor A, Garon M, Quenneville E, Bull SB, Gordon K, Savard P, Buschmann MD, Hurtig MB. (2020). Non-invasive Electroarthrography Measures Load-Induced Cartilage Streaming Potentials via Electrodes Placed on Skin Surrounding an Articular Joint. Cartilage, 13(2_suppl), 375S-385S. https://doi.org/10.1177/1947603520928583

Publication

Cartilage
ISSN: 1947-6043
NlmUniqueID: 101518378
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 13
Issue: 2_suppl
Pages: 375S-385S

Researcher Affiliations

Changoor, Adele
  • Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
  • Department of Surgery and Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Garon, Martin
  • Biomomentum Inc., Laval, Q, Canada.
Quenneville, Eric
  • Biomomentum Inc., Laval, Q, Canada.
Bull, Shelley B
  • Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Gordon, Karen
  • College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
Savard, Pierre
  • Biomedical and Electrical Engineering, École Polytechnique, Montréal, Q, Canada.
Buschmann, Michael D
  • Department of Bioengineering, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA.
Hurtig, Mark B
  • Comparative Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Studies, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Cartilage, Articular / physiology
  • Electrodes
  • Horses
  • Osmolar Concentration
  • Proteoglycans
  • Weight-Bearing / physiology

Conflict of Interest Statement

The author(s) declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: MG and EQ are the owners of Biomomentum Inc.

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Citations

This article has been cited 4 times.
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