Postnatal development of collagen structure in ovine articular cartilage.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Articular cartilage (AC) is the layer of tissue that covers the articulating ends of the bones in diarthrodial joints. Across species, adult AC shows an arcade-like structure with collagen predominantly perpendicular to the subchondral bone near the bone, and collagen predominantly parallel to the articular surface near the articular surface. Recent studies into collagen fibre orientation in stillborn and juvenile animals showed that this structure is absent at birth. Since the collagen structure is an important factor for AC mechanics, the absence of the adult Benninghoff structure has implications for perinatal AC mechanobiology. The current objective is to quantify the dynamics of collagen network development in a model animal from birth to maturity. We further aim to

SUBMITTER: van Turnhout MC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2906441 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature