Mechanical, compositional, and structural properties of the mouse patellar tendon with changes in biglycan gene expression.

ABSTRACT: Tendons have complex mechanical properties that depend on their structure and composition. Some studies have assessed the role of small leucine-rich proteoglycans (SLRPs) in the mechanical response of tendon, but the relationships between sophisticated mechanics, assembly of collagen and SLRPs have not been well characterized. In this study, biglycan gene expression was varied in a dose dependent manner using biglycan null, biglycan heterozygote and wild type mice. Measures of mechanical (tension and compression), compositional and structural changes of the mouse patellar tendon were evaluated. Viscoelastic, tensile dynamic modulus was found to be increased in the biglycan heterozygous and biglycan null tendons compared to wild type. Gene expression analyses revealed biglycan gene expressi

SUBMITTER: Dourte LM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3801205 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature