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Collagen types I and II distribution: a relevant indicator for the functional properties of articular cartilage in immobilised and remobilised rabbit knee joints
open access
Abstract
The objective of the present work was to study changes in collagen type I and type II distribution in the articular cartilage of immobilised and remobilised rabbit knee joints. Twenty-four adult male rabbits were divided into three groups. One of the groups was a control group with free movement. The right knee joints of animals of the other two groups were immobilised for 4 weeks, followed by a period of 10 weeks of remobilisation for animals of group 3. Collagen type I and type II in the articular cartilage of tibial medial condyle of the right knee joint were estimated immunohistochemically in all groups. A degenerative process was evident after 4 weeks of immobilisation of rabbit knee joint leading to a partial shift in the density of collagen composition from type II to type I. After a period of 10 weeks of remobilisation, regenerative processes, evidenced by a restoration of collagen type II to normal, proceeded on top of degenerative processes, evidenced by the significantly higher content of collagen type I compared with normal. The present study pointed to the importance of assessment of collagen distribution as a relevant indicator for the functional properties of articular cartilage in immobilised and remobilised joints.
Abstract
The objective of the present work was to study changes in collagen type I and type II distribution in the articular cartilage of immobilised and remobilised rabbit knee joints. Twenty-four adult male rabbits were divided into three groups. One of the groups was a control group with free movement. The right knee joints of animals of the other two groups were immobilised for 4 weeks, followed by a period of 10 weeks of remobilisation for animals of group 3. Collagen type I and type II in the articular cartilage of tibial medial condyle of the right knee joint were estimated immunohistochemically in all groups. A degenerative process was evident after 4 weeks of immobilisation of rabbit knee joint leading to a partial shift in the density of collagen composition from type II to type I. After a period of 10 weeks of remobilisation, regenerative processes, evidenced by a restoration of collagen type II to normal, proceeded on top of degenerative processes, evidenced by the significantly higher content of collagen type I compared with normal. The present study pointed to the importance of assessment of collagen distribution as a relevant indicator for the functional properties of articular cartilage in immobilised and remobilised joints.
Keywords
collagen type I, collagen type II, immobilised knee, immunohistochemistry
Title
Collagen types I and II distribution: a relevant indicator for the functional properties of articular cartilage in immobilised and remobilised rabbit knee joints
Journal
Issue
Article type
Original article
Pages
169-175
Published online
2015-05-28
Page views
1291
Article views/downloads
1521
DOI
10.5603/FM.2015.0027
Pubmed
Bibliographic record
Folia Morphol 2015;74(2):169-175.
Keywords
collagen type I
collagen type II
immobilised knee
immunohistochemistry
Authors
A. M. Aldahmash
A. F. El Fouhil
R. A. Mohamed
A. M. Ahmed
M. Atteya
S. A. Al Sharawy
R. A. Qureshi