Neonatal Spinal Cord Transection Decreases Hindlimb Weight-Bearing and Affects Formation of Achilles and Tail Tendons.

ABSTRACT: Mechanical loading may be required for proper tendon formation. However, it is not well understood how tendon formation is impacted by the development of weight-bearing locomotor activity in the neonate. This study assessed tendon mechanical properties, and concomitant changes in weight-bearing locomotion, in neonatal rats subjected to a low thoracic spinal cord transection or a sham surgery at postnatal day (P)1. On P10, spontaneous locomotion was evaluated in spinal cord transected and sham controls to determine impacts on weight-bearing hindlimb movement. The mechanical properties of P10 Achilles tendons (ATs), as representative energy-storing, weight-bearing tendons, and tail tendons (TTs), as representative positional, non-weight-bearing tendons were evaluated. Non- and partial weight

SUBMITTER: Theodossiou SK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8114905 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature