Development of Fibrocartilage Layers in the Anterior Cruciate Ligament Insertion in Rabbits

Overview

Journal BMC Musculoskelet Disord

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialties Orthopedics
Physiology

Date 2019 May 20

PMID 31103035

Citations 5

Authors

Hirotaka Mutsuzaki

Hiromi Nakajima

Maika Someji

Masataka Sakane

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: A detailed evaluation focusing on the fibrocartilage layers in the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) insertion is necessary to consider regeneration of the insertion. This study examined the development of the fibrocartilage layers in the ACL tibial insertion in rabbits by quantitative morphometric evaluations based on histological and immunohistochemical analyses.

Methods: Male Japanese white rabbits were used because of their history of use for histomorphometric analyses of the ACL insertion and to eliminate the influence of female hormones on the ACL. Six animals were euthanized at each age (1 day and 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24 weeks); in total, 48 animals were used. Proliferation rate, apoptosis rate, Sox9-positive rate, and chondrocyte number were evaluated. Safranin O-stained glycosaminoglycan (GAG) areas, tidemark length, ACL insertion width, and ACL length were also evaluated. All parameters were compared with those at age 24 weeks of age.

Results: High levels of chondrocyte proliferation and Sox9 expression continued until 4 and 8 weeks of age, respectively, and then gradually decreased. Chondrocyte apoptosis increased up to 8 weeks. The chondrocyte number, ACL insertion width, ACL length, safranin O-stained GAG areas, and tidemark length gradually increased up to 12 weeks.

Conclusion: Chondrocytes that displayed chondrocyte proliferation and Sox9 expression increased until 12 weeks of age, in accordance with development of the ACL length and its insertion width. The GAG production and tidemark length also increased until 12 weeks of age. The development of fibrocartilage layers in the ACL insertion was complete at 12 weeks of age.

Citing Articles

Histological differences in cartilage layer growth at various tendon and ligament insertions in rabbits.

Mutsuzaki H, Nakajima H J Rural Med. 2024; 19(3):181-185.

PMID: 38975044 PMC: 11222623. DOI: 10.2185/jrm.2024-009.

Periostin Contributes to Fibrocartilage Layer Growth of the Patella Tendon Tibial Insertion in Mice.

Mutsuzaki H, Yoshida Y, Nakajima H Medicina (Kaunas). 2022; 58(7).

PMID: 35888676 PMC: 9319934. DOI: 10.3390/medicina58070957.

Stem cell sheet interpositioned between the tendon and bone would be better for healing than stem cell sheet overlaid above the tendon-to-bone junction in rotator cuff repair of rats.

Choi J, Shim I, Shin M, Lee Y, Koh K PLoS One. 2022; 17(3):e0266030.

PMID: 35324992 PMC: 8947210. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0266030.

Development of fibrocartilage layers in Achilles tendon enthesis in rabbits.

Mutsuzaki H, Nakajima H J Rural Med. 2021; 16(3):160-164.

PMID: 34239628 PMC: 8249365. DOI: 10.2185/jrm.2021-015.

Differences in the Development of Fibrocartilage Layers in the Quadriceps Tendon and Patellar Tendon Insertions in Rabbits: A Quantitative Study.

Mutsuzaki H, Nakajima H Orthop J Sports Med. 2020; 8(12):2325967120966418.

PMID: 33344668 PMC: 7731710. DOI: 10.1177/2325967120966418.

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