title: The effects of aging, antiinflammatory drugs, and ultrasound on the in vitro response of tendon tissue.
abstract: We investigated the effects of aging and various treatments on rat patellar tendon using an in vitro model. In the first part of the study, the 3H-thymidine and 3H-proline incorporation rates at 12 and 24 hours were determined in transected patellar tendon explants from young (21 days), intermediate age (8 to 10 weeks), and older (4 to 6 months) rats. In the second part, the same incorporation rates were measured in the older tendon explants in response to treatment with control medium, medium with a high and low concentration of indomethacin, and medium with a high and low concentration of dexamethasone. Finally, the effects of ultrasound treatment were measured and compared with a sham ultrasound treatment. The results indicated an age-dependent response of the tendon. The youngest specimens consistently showed the highest incorporation rates. The addition of a high concentration of dexamethasone resulted in a small negative effect on the 3H-thymidine incorporation. Ultrasound and indomethacin had no significant effects. This study indicates that aging is associated with a lower metabolic activity of tendon. In this model, currently used treatment methods failed to result in direct positive effects on tendon tissue, and a high concentration of dexamethasone appeared to have a small negative effect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, USA.
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Almekinders
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Deol
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D052256:Tendinopathy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D013710:Tendons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D003907:Dexamethasone; D007213:Indomethacin