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The influence of glycosaminoglycan proteoglycan side chains on tensile force transmission and the nanostructural properties of Achilles tendons

journal contribution
posted on 2024-11-02, 18:55 authored by Anas Al Makhzoomi, Brett Kirk, Danielle Dye, Garry Allison
This study investigates the nanostructural mechanisms that lie behind load transmission in tendons and the role of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in the transmission of force in the tendon extracellular matrix. The GAGs in white New Zealand rabbit Achilles tendons were enzymatically depleted, and the tendons subjected to cyclic loading at 6% strain for up to 2 hr. A nanoscale morphometric assessment of fibril deformation under strain was linked with the decline in the tendon macroscale mechanical properties. An atomic force microscope (AFM) was employed to characterize the D-periodicity within and between fibril bundles (WFB and BFB, respectively). By the end of the second hour of the applied strain, the WFB and BFB D-periodicities had significantly increased in the GAG-depleted group (29% increase compared with 15% for the control, p < .0001). No statistically significant differences were found between WFB and BFB D-periodicities in either the control or GAG-depleted groups, suggesting that mechanical load in Achilles tendons is uniformly distributed and fairly homogenous among the WFB and BFB networks. The results of this study have provided evidence of a cycle-dependent mechanism of damage accumulation. The accurate quantification of fibril elongation (measured as the WFB and BFB D-periodicity lengths) in response to macroscopic applied strain has assisted in assessing the complex structure-function relationship in Achilles tendon.

History

Journal

Microscopy Research and Technique

Volume

85

Issue

1

Start page

233

End page

243

Total pages

11

Publisher

John Wiley & Sons

Place published

United States

Language

English

Copyright

© 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Former Identifier

2006112777

Esploro creation date

2022-02-26