title: Oxidative energy metabolism in equine tendon cells.
abstract: Hypoxia has been suggested as a possible cause of tissue degeneration and subsequent rupture in equine tendons. To determine whether low oxygen tension is likely to be detrimental to tendon cell function, experiments were designed to investigate oxidative energy metabolism in freshly isolated and cultured equine tendon cells. Freshly isolated tenocytes and cultured fibroblasts possessed activities of the mitochondrial enzyme citrate synthase similar to those of other mammalian cells, with well defined oxidative metabolism. D-[6(-14)C]-glucose oxidation was measurable in both freshly isolated and explant-derived cells. The content of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in cultured cells was decreased by incubation with a mitochondrial respiratory uncoupler. These data demonstrate that tendon cells are capable of oxidative energy metabolism and rely upon it to maintain cellular ATP levels. Hypoxia must therefore be considered as a possible factor leading to tendon degeneration and subsequent injury.
authors.affiliation: Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield.
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Birch
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Rutter
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Goodship
mesh_terms: D000244:Adenosine Diphosphate / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D002259:Carbonyl Cyanide p-Trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone / Q000494:pharmacology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002950:Citrate (si)-Synthase / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000201:enzymology; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006019:Glycolysis / Q000502:physiology; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D006736:Horses / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D009243:NAD / Q000378:metabolism; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D013710:Tendons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors; D014475:Uncoupling Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D014475:Uncoupling Agents; D009243:NAD; D002259:Carbonyl Cyanide p-Trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone; D000244:Adenosine Diphosphate; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D002950:Citrate (si)-Synthase; D005947:Glucose