Intrafascicular chondroid-like bodies in the ageing equine superficial digital flexor tendon comprise glycosaminoglycans and type II collagen
Othman J. Ali
Department of Musculoskeletal Biology and Ageing Science, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
Department of Surgery and Theriogenology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sulaimani, Sulaymaniyah, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq
Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Komar University of Science and Technology, Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
Search for more papers by this authorAnna Ehrle
Department of Musculoskeletal Biology and Ageing Science, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
Search for more papers by this authorEithne J. Comerford
Department of Musculoskeletal Biology and Ageing Science, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Neston, UK
The Medical Research Council Versus Arthritis Centre for Integrated Research into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA), Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, Faculty of Health and Life Science, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
Search for more papers by this authorElizabeth G. Canty-Laird
Department of Musculoskeletal Biology and Ageing Science, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
The Medical Research Council Versus Arthritis Centre for Integrated Research into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA), Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, Faculty of Health and Life Science, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
Search for more papers by this authorAshleigh Mead
Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Neston, UK
Search for more papers by this authorPeter D. Clegg
Department of Musculoskeletal Biology and Ageing Science, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Neston, UK
The Medical Research Council Versus Arthritis Centre for Integrated Research into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA), Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, Faculty of Health and Life Science, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Thomas W. Maddox
Department of Musculoskeletal Biology and Ageing Science, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Neston, UK
Correspondence Thomas W. Maddox, Institute of Life Course and Medical Science, University of Liverpool, 6 West Derby St, Liverpool L7 8TX, UK.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorOthman J. Ali
Department of Musculoskeletal Biology and Ageing Science, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
Department of Surgery and Theriogenology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sulaimani, Sulaymaniyah, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq
Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Komar University of Science and Technology, Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
Search for more papers by this authorAnna Ehrle
Department of Musculoskeletal Biology and Ageing Science, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
Search for more papers by this authorEithne J. Comerford
Department of Musculoskeletal Biology and Ageing Science, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Neston, UK
The Medical Research Council Versus Arthritis Centre for Integrated Research into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA), Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, Faculty of Health and Life Science, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
Search for more papers by this authorElizabeth G. Canty-Laird
Department of Musculoskeletal Biology and Ageing Science, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
The Medical Research Council Versus Arthritis Centre for Integrated Research into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA), Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, Faculty of Health and Life Science, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
Search for more papers by this authorAshleigh Mead
Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Neston, UK
Search for more papers by this authorPeter D. Clegg
Department of Musculoskeletal Biology and Ageing Science, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Neston, UK
The Medical Research Council Versus Arthritis Centre for Integrated Research into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA), Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, Faculty of Health and Life Science, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Thomas W. Maddox
Department of Musculoskeletal Biology and Ageing Science, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Neston, UK
Correspondence Thomas W. Maddox, Institute of Life Course and Medical Science, University of Liverpool, 6 West Derby St, Liverpool L7 8TX, UK.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorAnna Ehrle and Othman Ali are co-first authors.
[Correction added on March 03, 2021, after first online publication: Projekt Deal funding statement has been added.]
Abstract
The superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) is considered functionally equivalent to the human Achilles tendon. Circular chondroid depositions scattered amongst the fascicles of the equine SDFT are rarely reported. The purpose of this study was the detailed characterization of intrafascicular chondroid-like bodies (ICBs) in the equine SDFT, and the assessment of the effect of ageing on the presence and distribution of these structures. Ultrahigh field magnetic resonance imaging (9.4T) series of SDFT samples of young (1–9 years) and aged (17–25 years) horses were obtained, and three-dimensional reconstruction of ICBs was performed. Morphological evaluation of the ICBs included histology, immunohistochemistry and transmission electron microscopy. The number, size, and position of ICBs was determined and compared between age groups. There was a significant difference (p = .008) in the ICB count between young and old horses with ICBs present in varying number (13–467; median = 47, mean = 132.6), size and distribution in the SDFT of aged horses only. There were significantly more ICBs in the tendon periphery when compared with the tendon core region (p = .010). Histological characterization identified distinctive cells associated with increased glycosaminoglycan and type II collagen extracellular matrix content. Ageing and repetitive strain frequently cause tendon micro-damage before the development of clinical tendinopathy. Documentation of the presence and distribution of ICBs is a first step towards improving our understanding of the impact of these structures on the viscoelastic properties, and ultimately their effect on the risk of age-related tendinopathy in energy-storing tendons.
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