title: Structure and function of matrix components in the cruciate ligaments. An immunohistochemical, electron-microscopic, and immunoelectron-microscopic study.
abstract: In the present study, the matrix components of 100 cruciate ligaments were analyzed by conventional electron microscopy, immunohistology, morphometry, and immunoelectron microscopy. The anterior (ACL) and the posterior (PCL) cruciate ligaments contained collagen types III, IV, and VI. Several structural glycoproteins, like fibronectin, laminin, entactin, tenascin, and undulin were detected using monoclonal antibodies. Whereas laminin and entactin were higher concentrated in the PCL, type VI collagen was more frequently found in the ACL. The ACL had a critical nourishment in its distal and middle thirds. In all ligament parts the PCL revealed a better vascular supply with strong correlation to type IV collagen expression. The normal matrix of the cruciate ligaments represented a complicated regulatory network of proteins, glycoproteins, elastic systems, and glycosaminoglycans with multiple functional interactions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Mainz, FRG.
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Neurath
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stofft
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000032:analysis; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007797:Laminin / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D008875:Middle Aged; D016119:Posterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D019063:Tenascin / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: C054447:COL14A1 protein, human; D005353:Fibronectins; D006023:Glycoproteins; D007797:Laminin; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D019063:Tenascin; C029967:nidogen; D003094:Collagen