The effect of strenuous versus moderate exercise on the metabolism of proteoglycans in articular cartilage from different weight-bearing regions of the equine third carpal bone.
Abstract: Articular cartilage degeneration in the middle carpal joint is a common problem in racing horses. This study evaluated the effect of exercise on the in-vitro synthesis of the large aggregating proteoglycans (aggrecan) and two small proteoglycans, biglycan and decorin, in articular cartilage taken from three weight bearing regions of the third carpal bone of horses which were subjected to moderate or strenuous exercise. Twelve Standardbred horses free from clinical and radiographic disease of the middle carpal joint were subjected to an 8 week moderate exercise program. The horses were then randomly assigned to two groups: group A--continued moderate exercise and group B--strenuous exercise for 17 weeks. Horses were then rested for 16 weeks. Full-depth articular cartilage explants from the dorsal radial facet (DRF), dorsal intermediate facet (DIF) and palmar condyle (PC) of the third carpal bone were collected and cultured. Cartilage proteoglycan content and release into culture media were measured. Newly synthesized proteoglycans were labeled with 35SO4(2-) for 48 h and analyzed by size exclusion and hydrophobic chromatography, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and autoradiography. Histologic sections of adjacent osteochondral regions were evaluated for evidence of arthritic change. No histologic abnormalities or differences in proteoglycan content were detected in any of the articular cartilage regions examined. There was however, a significant reduction (P < 0.05) in aggrecan synthesis and a concomitant increase in decorin synthesis (P < 0.05) in articular cartilage from the DRF of group B animals. There was no change in biglycan synthesis, aggrecan hydrodynamic size or ability to aggregate in any articular cartilage region. This study has demonstrated that strenuous exercise in horses can lead to a disturbance in the biosynthesis of proteoglycans in articular cartilage regions subjected to high contact stresses (DRF). These metabolic abnormalities, which persisted for 16 weeks after cessation of exercise, could have deleterious effects on the biomechanical properties of the tissue. We suggest that the observed alteration in articular cartilage metabolism in CRF cartilage of strenuously exercised horses could represent a predisposing factor for cartilage degeneration and osteoarthritis at a later stage.
Publication Date: 1997-05-01 PubMed ID: 9219679DOI: 10.1016/s1063-4584(97)80011-8Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research article investigates the impact of strenuous versus moderate exercise on the metabolism of proteoglycans in the articular cartilage of racehorses. The study finds that strenuous exercise can disrupt proteoglycan biosynthesis in cartilage regions subjected to high levels of stress, potentially affecting tissue biomechanics and predisposing the cartilage to osteoarthritis.
Introduction and Methodology
- The study was initiated in response to the common occurrence of articular cartilage degeneration in racehorses’ middle carpal joints. Concentrating on the biosynthesis of three proteoglycans, biglycan, decorin, and aggrecan, the research utilized articular cartilage from the equine third carpal bone after the horses underwent moderate or strenuous exercise.
- 12 healthy Standardbred horses underwent an eight-week moderate exercise program, after which they were randomly divided into two groups for 17 weeks. Group A continued with moderate exercise, while Group B was subjected to strenuous exercise. After this period, the horses had a 16-week rest period.
- Full-depth articular cartilage explants from three different regions of the third carpal bone were then collected and cultured. Chemicals including sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and 35SO4(2-) were used to label and analyze the newly synthesized proteoglycans.
Results and Discussion
- During the evaluation, neither histologic abnormalities nor proteoglycan content differences were discovered among the articular cartilage regions. However, a significantly reduced aggrecan synthesis and a simultaneous increase in decorin synthesis were noted in the articular cartilage in the strenuously exercised horses group, particularly in one region (Dorsal Radial Facet).
- No change was observed in biglycan synthesis, or the size and aggregation ability of aggrecan in any articular cartilage region. This suggests that strenuous exercise specifically affected aggrecan and decorin synthesis.
- These metabolic changes were present even 16 weeks after the cessation of exercise, indicating potential long-term damage. The research suggests these disruptions could negatively impact the biomechanical properties of the tissue.
- The researchers suggest that the changes in cartilage metabolism seen in strenuously exercised horses could increase the risk of cartilage degeneration and osteoarthritis later on. This can provide significant insights into managing racehorse training schedules and understanding potential health risks associated with rigorous exercise regimes.
Cite This Article
APA
Little CB, Ghosh P, Rose R.
(1997).
The effect of strenuous versus moderate exercise on the metabolism of proteoglycans in articular cartilage from different weight-bearing regions of the equine third carpal bone.
Osteoarthritis Cartilage, 5(3), 161-172.
https://doi.org/10.1016/s1063-4584(97)80011-8 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Raymond Purves Bone and Joint Research Laboratories, Royal North Shore Hospital, St. Leonards, NSW, Australia.
MeSH Terms
- Aggrecans
- Animals
- Biglycan
- Carpus, Animal / metabolism
- Cartilage, Articular / metabolism
- Chromatography
- Decorin
- Extracellular Matrix Proteins
- Horses
- Lectins, C-Type
- Male
- Physical Conditioning, Animal
- Proteoglycans / metabolism
- Random Allocation
- Weight-Bearing
Citations
This article has been cited 5 times.- Anderson JR, Jacobsen S, Walters M, Bundgaard L, Diendorfer A, Hackl M, Clarke EJ, James V, Peffers MJ. Small non-coding RNA landscape of extracellular vesicles from a post-traumatic model of equine osteoarthritis.. Front Vet Sci 2022;9:901269.
- Roddy KA, Boulter CA. Targeted mutation of NOV/CCN3 in mice disrupts joint homeostasis and causes osteoarthritis-like disease.. Osteoarthritis Cartilage 2015 Apr;23(4):607-15.
- Siebelt M, Groen HC, Koelewijn SJ, de Blois E, Sandker M, Waarsing JH, Müller C, van Osch GJ, de Jong M, Weinans H. Increased physical activity severely induces osteoarthritic changes in knee joints with papain induced sulfate-glycosaminoglycan depleted cartilage.. Arthritis Res Ther 2014 Jan 29;16(1):R32.
- Lamprecht ED, Williams CA. Biomarkers of antioxidant status, inflammation, and cartilage metabolism are affected by acute intense exercise but not superoxide dismutase supplementation in horses.. Oxid Med Cell Longev 2012;2012:920932.
- Bautch JC, Clayton MK, Chu Q, Johnson KA. Synovial fluid chondroitin sulphate epitopes 3B3 and 7D4, and glycosaminoglycan in human knee osteoarthritis after exercise.. Ann Rheum Dis 2000 Nov;59(11):887-91.
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