title: Collagen cross-linking alterations in joint contractures: changes in the reducible cross-links in periarticular connective tissue collagen after nine weeks of immobilization.
abstract: A significant increase in the NaBH4 reducible intermolecular cross-links in the 9 week immobilized rabbit periarticular connective tissue was found. Dihydroxylysinonorleucine, hydroxylysinonorleucine, and histidinohydroxymerodesmosine were the major cross-links which increased during the period of immobilization. No change in the hydroxlysine/lysine ratio between the immobilized and control periarticular connective tissue collagen was detected during the 9 weeks of enforced immobilization of the rabbit knee. Since the collagen mass in the immobilized periarticular connective tissue does not change, or at most is reduced 10%, we suggest that there is an increase in collagen cross-links expressed both in per unit weight of collagen and on the basis of collagen mass per knee due to the lack of physical stress and motion.
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000032:analysis*; D006614:Hindlimb; D007103:Immobilization; D007596:Joints / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D011487:Protein Conformation; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D003094:Collagen