The effect of exercise-induced localised hyperthermia on tendon cell survival.
Abstract: Tendons that store energy during locomotion, such as the equine superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) and human Achilles tendon, suffer a high incidence of central core degeneration which is thought to precede tendon rupture. Although energy storage contributes to the efficiency of locomotion, tendons are not perfectly elastic and some energy is lost in the form of heat. Recent studies have shown that the central core of equine SDFT reaches temperatures as high as 45 degrees C during high-speed locomotion. In this study, we test the hypothesis that hyperthermia causes tendon cell death and results in tendon central core degeneration. Tendon fibroblasts cultured from the core of the equine SDFT were subjected to a temperature of 45 degrees C in an in vitro system for 0-180 min, and cell survival fraction was measured and compared with that for equine dermal fibroblasts and a commercial rat kidney fibroblast cell line (NRK 49F). Tendon fibroblasts were significantly more resistant to hyperthermia than NRK 49F cells after 30, 45 and 60 min of heating and significantly more resistant than dermal fibroblasts after 45 and 60 min of heating. After 10 min of heating at 45 degrees C, the tendon fibroblast cell survival fraction was 91 +/- 4%, whereas heating for 10 min at 48 degrees C resulted in a drop in the cell survival fraction to 22 +/- 4%. In conclusion, while temperatures experienced in the central core of the SDFT in vivo are unlikely to result in tendon cell death, repeated hyperthermic insults may compromise cell metabolism of matrix components, resulting in tendon central core degeneration.
Publication Date: 1997-06-01 PubMed ID: 9202452DOI: 10.1242/jeb.200.11.1703Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research article explores how localized high temperatures (hyperthermia) caused by physical exercise could lead to cell death and hence cause degeneration of tendons. The focus of the study is on tendons that store energy during movement such as those found in horses and humans.
Hypothesis and Experiment Setup
- The researchers hypothesized that hyperthermia, deriving from the dissipation of stored energy as heat during high-speed movement, can cause tendon cell death and eventually lead to tendon degeneration.
- The temperature within these tendons can reach up to 45 degrees Celsius during intense, high-speed locomotion.
- To test this hypothesis, an experiment was set up in which tendon fibroblasts, cells that produce collagen and other fibers, cultured from the equine superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) were exposed to a temperature of 45 degrees Celsius for varying periods of time.
- The survival ratio of these heat-stressed cells was then measured and compared with that of equine dermal fibroblasts and a commercial rat kidney fibroblast cell line known as NRK 49F.
Findings: Resilience and Sensitivity to Hyperthermia
- Contrary to the initial hypothesis, the tendon fibroblasts showed a significant resistance to hyperthermia than the NRK 49F cells after 30, 45 and 60 minutes of exposure, and more resistance than dermal fibroblasts after 45 and 60 minutes of heating.
- However, the survival fraction of tendon fibroblasts did drop significantly after just 10 minutes of heating at 48 degrees Celsius.
- This suggests that, while the in vivo temperatures in the central core of the SDFT are unlikely to cause cell death, repeated exposure to high temperatures could indeed have deleterious effects.
Conclusion and Implications
- Repeated hyperthermic incidents could thereby compromise cell metabolism of matrix components, eventually leading to tendon central core degeneration.
- This research provides important understanding on how exercise-induced heat affecting the tendon contributes to the incidence of tendon degeneration and eventual rupture. It could guide further investigations and potentially inform strategies to prevent such injuries.
Cite This Article
APA
Birch HL, Wilson AM, Goodship AE.
(1997).
The effect of exercise-induced localised hyperthermia on tendon cell survival.
J Exp Biol, 200(Pt 11), 1703-1708.
https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.200.11.1703 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Royal Veterinary College, North Mymms, Hatfield, Herts, UK. HBIRCH@RVC.AC.UK
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Cell Death
- Cells, Cultured
- Fever
- Horses
- Physical Conditioning, Animal
- Rats
- Tendons / cytology
- Tendons / physiology
Citations
This article has been cited 15 times.- O' Brien C, Pegg J. A Preliminary Investigation into Ridden Water Submersion Training as an Adjunct to Current Condition Training Protocols in Performance Horses.. Animals (Basel) 2021 Sep 7;11(9).
- Janczarek I, Kędzierski W, Tkaczyk E, Kaczmarek B, Łuszczyński J, Mucha K. Thermographic Analysis of the Metacarpal and Metatarsal Areas in Jumping Sport Horses and Leisure Horses in Response to Warm-Up Duration.. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jul 6;11(7).
- Katugam K, Cox SM, Salzano MQ, De Boef A, Hast MW, Neuberger T, Ryan TM, Piazza SJ, Rubenson J. Altering the Mechanical Load Environment During Growth Does Not Affect Adult Achilles Tendon Properties in an Avian Bipedal Model.. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020;8:994.
- Newman HR, Bowles RD, Buckley MR. Viscoelastic heating of insulated bovine intervertebral disc.. JOR Spine 2018 Mar;1(1):e1002.
- Alzyoud JAM, Joyce NS, Woodward RD, Khan IM, Rees SG. In vitro tissue culture model validation-the influence of tissue culture components on IPL energy output.. Lasers Med Sci 2019 Oct;34(8):1575-1582.
- de Oliveira UF, de Araújo LC, de Andrade PR, Dos Santos HH, Moreira DG, Sillero-Quintana M, de Almeida Ferreira JJ. Skin temperature changes during muscular static stretching exercise.. J Exerc Rehabil 2018 Jun;14(3):451-459.
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- McFarland EG, Maffulli N, Del Buono A, Murrell GA, Garzon-Muvdi J, Petersen SA. Impingement is not impingement: the case for calling it "Rotator Cuff Disease".. Muscles Ligaments Tendons J 2013 Jul;3(3):196-200.
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