title: The effect of cryopreservation or heating on the mechanical properties and histomorphology of rat bone-patellar tendon-bone.
abstract: The effects of cryopreservation on tendon allograft have been reported, but remain unclear, particularly the potential effects on mechanical properties and histological changes by ice crystal formation. There are also few studies about effects of heating for sterilization of tendon. We evaluated the effect of cryopreservation or heating on the mechanical properties and histomorphology of rat bone-patellar tendon-bones (BTBs). BTBs were processed by cryopreservation at -80 degrees C for 3 weeks, or heating at 80 degrees C for 10 min. Tensile testing and histomorphological examination were performed. The cryopreservation of tendons showed less influences on their mechanical properties. When cryopreserved BTBs in frozen state were fixed by freeze-substitution method, many spaces were observed in interfibrillar substances. These results suggest that the collagen fibers of cryopreserved tendons were histomorphologically affected by ice crystals. The heating of tendons completely destroyed the collagen fibers of the tendons and is therefore thought to be inappropriate for the sterilization of BTBs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Hwang Jung
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Urabe
authors.forename: Kouji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Naruse
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Onuma
authors.forename: Noriko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nemoto
authors.forename: Moritoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Itoman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003094:Collagen / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015925:Cryopreservation; D017110:Freeze Substitution; D006358:Hot Temperature; D008297:Male; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D009926:Organ Preservation; D017847:Patellar Ligament / Q000502:physiology* / Q000637:transplantation / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013242:Sterilization; D013718:Tensile Strength / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D003094:Collagen