Deprivation of loading during rat Achilles tendon healing affects extracellular matrix composition and structure, and reduces cell density and alignment.

ABSTRACT: Tendon healing involves mechanosensitive cells that adapt to mechanical stimuli through mechanotransduction, resulting in increased tissue strength. However, detailed insights into this process in response to different loads remain limited. We aimed to investigate how different loading regimes impact the spatial composition of elastin and collagens during Achilles tendon healing. Histological analysis was conducted on healing rat Achilles tendons exposed to (1) full loading, (2) reduced loading, or (3) minimal loading. Histological analysis included Hematoxylin & Eosin and immunohistochemical staining targeting elastin, Collagen 1, Collagen 3, and CD31. Our results showed that the impact of mechanical stimuli on healing tendons varied with the degree of loading. Unexpectedly, minimal loadi

SUBMITTER: Hammerman M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11461875 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature