The embryogenesis of the equine femorotibial joint: The equine interzone.
Abstract: Articular cartilage regeneration is the focus and goal of considerable research effort. Since articular chondrocytes descend from a distinct cohort of progenitor cells located in embryonic nascent joints (interzones), establishing the timing of equine interzone formation is an essential first step towards understanding equine joint and articular cartilage development. Objective: To establish the time frame during which the equine femorotibial interzone forms. Methods: Descriptive anatomical study. Methods: Equine embryos were harvested at 37 (E37), 40, 42, 45, 50 and 65 days' gestation. The femorotibial interzone was examined using high-resolution episcopic microscopy of E37, E42, E45, E50 and E65. Additional histology and collagen-II-immunohistochemistry were performed on E42. Results: At E37, the femorotibial interzone is first visible as a uniform layer, while at E42 the interzone is fully formed and consists of 3 morphologically distinct layers. The first evidence of cavitation was seen at E45. At E50, the cruciate ligaments were well formed and by E65, joint formation appeared complete. Conclusions: The embryogenesis of the equine femorotibial joint is similar to the developmental timeline of stage-matched human and murine embryos. Further studies looking at interzone formation on a cellular and molecular level may further our understanding of the intricate developmental patterns and pathways of articular cartilage development.
© 2014 EVJ Ltd.
Publication Date: 2014-09-10 PubMed ID: 25041290DOI: 10.1111/evj.12321Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research provides a timeline for the formation of the equine femorotibial interzone during embryonic development, which is an essential step towards understanding equine joint and cartilage development.
Overview of the Research
- The study aims to understand the embryonic development of the equine femorotibial joint, particularly the formation of the interzone, a distinct layer of progenitor cells from which articular chondrocytes – the cells forming cartilage in joints – originate. This understanding will help in the research on articular cartilage regeneration.
- To achieve this, the researchers used high-resolution episcopic microscopy on harvested equine embryos at several gestational periods to examine the femorotibial interzone. Additional histology and collagen-II-immunohistochemistry was performed on a 42-day-old equine embryo.
Findings of the Study
- On day 37 of gestation, the femorotibial interzone becomes visible as a uniform layer in the embryonic joint.
- By the 42nd day, the interzone becomes fully formed and consists of three distinct layers. This is also the timeline when the first evidence of cavitation, the formation of cavities between joint surfaces in embryos, is observed.
- By day 50, the cruciate ligaments of the joints are well-formed. By the 65th day of gestation, the formation of the joint appears to be complete.
- The observations on the embryogenesis of the equine femorotibial joint in the research align closely with the developmental timeline of stage-matched human and murine embryos, indicating similarities across species.
Implications of the Research
- The findings of this research provide significant insights into the intricate developmental patterns of the articular cartilage in equine embryos.
- These results can be a helpful reference for further studies on a cellular and molecular level about interzone formation, which could deepen our understanding and potentially improve strategies for articular cartilage regeneration.
Cite This Article
APA
Jenner F, van Osch GJ, Weninger W, Geyer S, Stout T, van Weeren R, Brama P.
(2014).
The embryogenesis of the equine femorotibial joint: The equine interzone.
Equine Vet J, 47(5), 620-622.
https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12321 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Equine Hospital, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Austria.
- Department of Orthopaedics, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
- Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.
- Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.
- Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, The Netherlands.
- Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, The Netherlands.
- Section Veterinary Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Ireland.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Hindlimb / embryology
- Horses / embryology
- Joints / embryology
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Holroyd NA, Walsh C, Gourmet L, Walker-Samuel S. Quantitative Image Processing for Three-Dimensional Episcopic Images of Biological Structures: Current State and Future Directions. Biomedicines 2023 Mar 15;11(3).
- Geyer SH, Maurer-Gesek B, Reissig LF, Weninger WJ. High-resolution Episcopic Microscopy (HREM) - Simple and Robust Protocols for Processing and Visualizing Organic Materials. J Vis Exp 2017 Jul 7;(125).
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