Abstract
BackgroundTendon disorders are common and lead to significant disability and pain. Our knowledge of the ‘tennis elbow’, the ‘jumpers knee’, and Achilles tendinosis has increased over the years, but changes in denervated tendons is yet to be described in detail. The aim of the present study was to investigate the morphological and biochemical changes in tendon tissue following two weeks of denervation using a unilateral sciatic nerve transection model in rat Achilles tendons.MethodsTendons were compared with respect to cell number, nuclear roundness, and fiber structure. The non-denervated contralateral tendon served as a control. Also, the expression of neuromodulators such as substance P and its preferred receptor neurokinin-1 receptor, NK-1R, was evaluated using real-time qRT-PCR.ResultsOur results showed that denervated tendons expressed morphological changes such as hypercellularity; disfigured cells; disorganization of the collagen network; increased production of type III collagen; and increased expression of NK-1R.ConclusionTaken together these data provide new insights into the histopathology of denervated tendons showing that denervation causes somewhat similar changes in the Achilles tendon as does tendinosis in rats.
Highlights
Tendon disorders are common and lead to significant disability and pain
Here we present data regarding the histopathology of denervated rat Achilles tendons
Denervated tendons had a significantly higher expression of type I and type III collagen, and Neurokinin-1 receptor (NK-1R). These findings indicate that rat Achilles tendons acquired tendinosis-like changes after two weeks of denervation
Summary
Tendon disorders are common and lead to significant disability and pain. Our knowledge of the ‘tennis elbow’, the ‘jumpers knee’, and Achilles tendinosis has increased over the years, but changes in denervated tendons is yet to be described in detail. Studies measuring the cross-sectional area of the Achilles tendon both after short term (2 weeks) and long term immobilization (6 weeks) did not observe changes in the cross-sectional area of the tendon, in contrast to the muscle, which already showed significant atrophy after 2 weeks [10, 11]. These studies indicate that tendon tissue is more resistant to immobilization than the skeletal muscle is [10, 11].
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