Sex, collagen expression, and anterior cruciate ligament strength in rats.
BACKGROUND
Sex-specific responses to steroid sex hormones have been suggested as a potential cause for the disparate anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury rates between male and female athletes. Type 1 collagen (T1C) and type 3 collagen (T3C) are crucial structural components that define the ligament's ability to withstand tensile loads. Messenger RNA (mRNA) is an important mediator of downstream collagen synthesis and remodeling, but the sex-specific mechanisms of collagen mRNA expression and ACL strength are unknown.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the influence of sex on T1C and T3C mRNA expression and mass-normalized stiffness and peak failure load in the ACLs of skeletally mature rats.


METHODS
Observational study.


METHODS
Basic sciences and biomechanical testing laboratories.


METHODS
Nineteen 12-week-old male (n = 9) and female (n = 10) Sprague Dawley rats.


METHODS
We used real-time polymerase chain reaction to determine T1C and T3C mRNA expression and a hydraulic materials testing device to measure ACL stiffness and failure load. Nonparametric Wilcoxon rank sum tests were used to compare the groups.


RESULTS
Female rats had lower amounts of T3C mRNA expression and higher normalized ACL tangent stiffness and failure load than male rats.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that sex-specific differences in T1C and T3C mRNA expression may play an important role in the downstream mechanical properties of the ACL.
Romani
William A
WA
MedStar Research Institute, Orthopedic and Sports Health Research, Baltimore, MD, USA. wromani16@gmail.com
Langenberg
Patricia
P
Belkoff
Stephen M
SM
D000818:Animals; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000502:physiology*; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D024061:Collagen Type III / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016474:Weight-Bearing
D024042:Collagen Type I; D024061:Collagen Type III; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D012333:RNA, Messenger