FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / Proc R Soc Lond B Biol Sci / Tendon and ligament from the horse: an ultrastructural study...
Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences1978; 203(1152); 293-303; doi: 10.1098/rspb.1978.0106

Tendon and ligament from the horse: an ultrastructural study of collagen fibrils and elastic fibres as a function of age.

Abstract: A study has been made of the ultrastructural organization of the collagen fibrils and elastic fibres in tendons and ligaments from horses of ages ranging from 2 months premature to 19 years. Diameter distributions of the collagen fibrils in the common digital extensor tendon, the superficial flexor tendon and the suspensory ligament are unimodal in the foetal tissue and at birth, and at these stages of development the three collagenous tissues are virtually indistinguishable. However, at maturity, the ligament and flexor tendon have bimodal distributions similar to that found for rat-tail tendon. The fibril distribution for extensor tendon remains unimodal until the onset of maturity, beyond which the distribution becomes bimodal. Fibril diameter distributions for ligament, extensor and flexor tendon at old age are, as at birth, virtually identical. An estimate has been made of fibrillar collagen content in the three tissues as a function of age. As with rat-tail tendon, the collagen content increases steadily from birth to maturity, at which stage the content remains fairly constant though it does drop slowly with increasing age. The presence of well developed elastic tissue in foetal and immature tendon and ligament shows that the development of the elastic fibres does not parallel the development of the collagen fibrils. In diseased tissues from a 3 year suspensory ligament and an 8.5 year superficial flexor tendon only immature elastic fibres have been observed. Furthermore, since the collagen fibril diameter distributions in these specimens show a marked change from the norm, it would be expected that the mechanical properties of these tissues would be altered significantly.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 1978-12-18 PubMed ID: 33394DOI: 10.1098/rspb.1978.0106Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article

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 examines the interaction of collagen fibrils and elastic fibers in the tendons and ligaments of horses at various age stages to understand the changes occurring over time. The discovery suggested notable differences in the collagen composition at different ages suggesting that the elasticity and mechanical properties of these tissues significantly alter over time.

Objective and Methodology

  • The study aimed to investigate the ultrastructural organization of collagen fibrils and elastic fibres in horse tendons and ligaments ranging from a 2-month premature to 19 years old horse.
  • The researchers analyzed diameter distributions of collagen fibrils in various tendons and ligaments including common digital extensor tendon, superficial flexor tendon, and the suspensory ligament. The fibrillar collagen content in the tissues was estimated as a function of age.

Results and Findings

  • The results showed that collagen fibril diameter distributions in the analyzed tendons and ligaments are unimodal in the foetal tissue and at birth. The three collagenous tissues studied can hardly be differentiated at these developmental stages. However, at maturity, the ligament and flexor tendon show bimodal distributions, as is seen in rat-tail tendon.
  • The extensor tendon remains unimodal until the onset of maturity, after which the distribution becomes bimodal. The distribution of collagen fibril diameters in old age is similar to that at birth in all three tissues.
  • The study also revealed that collagen content increases steadily from birth to maturity and thereafter remains relatively stable, albeit with a slight decrease as age progresses.
  • The presence of mature elastic tissue in foetal and immature tendons and ligaments indicates that the development of elastic fibers does not follow the same trajectory as that of collagen fibrils. Immature elastic fibers were observed in diseased tissues.

Conclusions and Implications

  • Through the study of collagen fibril diameter distributions, the researchers uncovered significant changes in the mechanical properties of tendons and ligaments over time. These findings carry important implications for understanding and potentially treating tendon and ligament-related disorders in horses.
  • Moreover, the results highlight the importance of collagen and elasticity in the function and health of tendons and ligaments, providing a pathway to future studies on how to improve their health, especially in older horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Parry DA, Craig AS, Barnes GR. (1978). Tendon and ligament from the horse: an ultrastructural study of collagen fibrils and elastic fibres as a function of age. Proc R Soc Lond B Biol Sci, 203(1152), 293-303. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.1978.0106

Publication

Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences
ISSN: 0950-1193
NlmUniqueID: 7505889
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 203
Issue: 1152
Pages: 293-303

Researcher Affiliations

Parry, D A
    Craig, A S
      Barnes, G R

        MeSH Terms

        • Aging
        • Animals
        • Collagen / physiology
        • Collagen Diseases / pathology
        • Collagen Diseases / veterinary
        • Elastin / physiology
        • Forelimb
        • Horse Diseases / pathology
        • Horses / anatomy & histology
        • Ligaments, Articular / ultrastructure
        • Tendons / ultrastructure

        Citations

        This article has been cited 28 times.
        1. Ribbans WJ, September AV, Collins M. Tendon and Ligament Genetics: How Do They Contribute to Disease and Injury? A Narrative Review. Life (Basel) 2022 Apr 29;12(5).
          doi: 10.3390/life12050663pubmed: 35629331google scholar: lookup
        2. Siadat SM, Zamboulis DE, Thorpe CT, Ruberti JW, Connizzo BK. Tendon Extracellular Matrix Assembly, Maintenance and Dysregulation Throughout Life. Adv Exp Med Biol 2021;1348:45-103.
          doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-80614-9_3pubmed: 34807415google scholar: lookup
        3. Park S, Kim YA, Lee S, Park Y, Kim N, Choi J. Effects of Pig Skin Collagen Supplementation on Broiler Breast Meat. Food Sci Anim Resour 2021 Jul;41(4):674-686.
          doi: 10.5851/kosfa.2021.e28pubmed: 34291215google scholar: lookup
        4. Khajeh A, Baniadam A, Oryan A, Ghadiri A, Naddaf H. Effectiveness of nuchal ligament autograft in the healing of an experimental superficial digital flexor tendon defect in equid. Vet Res Forum 2021 Winter;12(1):53-61.
          doi: 10.30466/vrf.2019.97919.2330pubmed: 33953874google scholar: lookup
        5. Riasat K, Bardell D, Goljanek-Whysall K, Clegg PD, Peffers MJ. Epigenetic mechanisms in Tendon Ageing. Br Med Bull 2020 Oct 14;135(1):90-107.
          doi: 10.1093/bmb/ldaa023pubmed: 32827252google scholar: lookup
        6. van Vijven M, van Groningen B, Kimenai JN, van der Steen MC, van Doeselaar M, Janssen RPA, Ito K, Foolen J. Identifying potential patient-specific predictors for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction outcome - a diagnostic in vitro tissue remodeling platform. J Exp Orthop 2020 Jul 4;7(1):48.
          doi: 10.1186/s40634-020-00266-2pubmed: 32623555google scholar: lookup
        7. Schrier VJMM, Vrieze A, Amadio PC. Subsynovial connective tissue development in the rabbit carpal tunnel. Vet Med Sci 2020 Nov;6(4):1025-1033.
          doi: 10.1002/vms3.281pubmed: 32378336google scholar: lookup
        8. Hill JR, Eekhoff JD, Brophy RH, Lake SP. Elastic fibers in orthopedics: Form and function in tendons and ligaments, clinical implications, and future directions. J Orthop Res 2020 Nov;38(11):2305-2317.
          doi: 10.1002/jor.24695pubmed: 32293749google scholar: lookup
        9. Ribitsch I, Gueltekin S, Keith MF, Minichmair K, Peham C, Jenner F, Egerbacher M. Age-related changes of tendon fibril micro-morphology and gene expression. J Anat 2020 Apr;236(4):688-700.
          doi: 10.1111/joa.13125pubmed: 31792963google scholar: lookup
        10. Takahashi N, Hirose T, Minaguchi JA, Ueda H, Tangkawattana P, Takehana K. Fibrillar architecture at three different sites of the bovine superficial digital flexor tendon. J Vet Med Sci 2018 Mar 24;80(3):405-412.
          doi: 10.1292/jvms.17-0562pubmed: 29332865google scholar: lookup
        11. Tilley JM, Murphy RJ, Chaudhury S, Czernuszka JT, Carr AJ. Effect of tear size, corticosteroids and subacromial decompression surgery on the hierarchical structural properties of torn supraspinatus tendons. Bone Joint Res 2014 Aug;3(8):252-61.
          doi: 10.1302/2046-3758.38.2000251pubmed: 25106417google scholar: lookup
        12. Ahmadzadeh H, Connizzo BK, Freedman BR, Soslowsky LJ, Shenoy VB. Determining the contribution of glycosaminoglycans to tendon mechanical properties with a modified shear-lag model. J Biomech 2013 Sep 27;46(14):2497-503.
          doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2013.07.008pubmed: 23932185google scholar: lookup
        13. Miller KS, Connizzo BK, Soslowsky LJ. Collagen fiber re-alignment in a neonatal developmental mouse supraspinatus tendon model. Ann Biomed Eng 2012 May;40(5):1102-10.
          doi: 10.1007/s10439-011-0490-3pubmed: 22183194google scholar: lookup
        14. Watanabe T, Imamura Y, Suzuki D, Hosaka Y, Ueda H, Hiramatsu K, Takehana K. Concerted and adaptive alignment of decorin dermatan sulfate filaments in the graded organization of collagen fibrils in the equine superficial digital flexor tendon. J Anat 2012 Feb;220(2):156-63.
          doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7580.2011.01456.xpubmed: 22122012google scholar: lookup
        15. Onambele-Pearson GL, Pearson SJ. The magnitude and character of resistance-training-induced increase in tendon stiffness at old age is gender specific. Age (Dordr) 2012 Apr;34(2):427-38.
          doi: 10.1007/s11357-011-9248-ypubmed: 21505764google scholar: lookup
        16. Ansorge HL, Adams S, Birk DE, Soslowsky LJ. Mechanical, compositional, and structural properties of the post-natal mouse Achilles tendon. Ann Biomed Eng 2011 Jul;39(7):1904-13.
          doi: 10.1007/s10439-011-0299-0pubmed: 21431455google scholar: lookup
        17. Hart RA, Akeson WH, Spratt K, Amiel D. Collagen fibril diameter distributions in rabbit anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments: changes with maturation. Iowa Orthop J 1999;19:66-70.
          pubmed: 10847518
        18. Hickey DS, Hukins DW. Collagen fibril diameters and elastic fibres in the annulus fibrosus of human fetal intervertebral disc. J Anat 1981 Oct;133(Pt 3):351-7.
          pubmed: 7328042
        19. Michna H. Morphometric analysis of loading-induced changes in collagen-fibril populations in young tendons. Cell Tissue Res 1984;236(2):465-70.
          doi: 10.1007/BF00214251pubmed: 6733772google scholar: lookup
        20. Lu G, Peng QL. Special form of collagen fibrils. Acta Acad Med Wuhan 1984;4(3):187-90.
          doi: 10.1007/BF02856875pubmed: 6483318google scholar: lookup
        21. Light ND, Bailey AJ. The chemistry of the collagen cross-links. Purification and characterization of cross-linked polymeric peptide material from mature collagen containing unknown amino acids. Biochem J 1980 Feb 1;185(2):373-81.
          doi: 10.1042/bj1850373pubmed: 6249253google scholar: lookup
        22. Michna H. Tendon injuries induced by exercise and anabolic steroids in experimental mice. Int Orthop 1987;11(2):157-62.
          doi: 10.1007/BF00266702pubmed: 3610410google scholar: lookup
        23. Bruns RR, Press W, Engvall E, Timpl R, Gross J. Type VI collagen in extracellular, 100-nm periodic filaments and fibrils: identification by immunoelectron microscopy. J Cell Biol 1986 Aug;103(2):393-404.
          doi: 10.1083/jcb.103.2.393pubmed: 3525575google scholar: lookup
        24. Michna H, Hartmann G. Adaptation of tendon collagen to exercise. Int Orthop 1989;13(3):161-5.
          doi: 10.1007/BF00268040pubmed: 2633778google scholar: lookup
        25. Szarek P, Ruberti JW. Collagen Mechanics. Subcell Biochem 2026;113:277-342.
          doi: 10.1007/978-3-032-05273-5_10pubmed: 41557236google scholar: lookup
        26. Gsell KY, Kreplak L, Veres SP. In tendons, differing physiological requirements lead to distinct patterns of MMP-1 degradation. Sci Rep 2025 Dec 23;16(1):2420.
          doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-32374-3pubmed: 41436551google scholar: lookup
        27. Troop LD, Puetzer JL. Intermittent cyclic stretch of engineered ligaments drives hierarchical collagen fiber maturation in a dose- and organizational-dependent manner. Acta Biomater 2024 Sep 1;185:296-311.
          doi: 10.1016/j.actbio.2024.07.025pubmed: 39025395google scholar: lookup
        28. Lusi CM, Davies HMS. Passive Dynamics of the Head, Neck and Forelimb in Equine Foetuses-An Observational Study. Animals (Basel) 2023 Jun 6;13(12).
          doi: 10.3390/ani13121894pubmed: 37370407google scholar: lookup
        Subscribe to our newsletter
        Join 99,344 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.