title: Ultrastructural analysis of healthy synovial fluids in three mammalian species.
abstract: A better knowledge of synovial fluid (SF) ultrastructure is required to further understand normal joint lubrication and metabolism. The aim of the present study was to elucidate SF structural features in healthy joints from three mammalian species of different size compared with features in biomimetic SF. High-resolution structural analysis was performed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and environmental SEM/wet scanning transmission electron microscopy mode complemented by TEM and SEM cryogenic methods. Laser-scanning confocal microscopy (LCM) was used to locate the main components of SF with respect to its ultrastructural organization. The present study showed that the ultrastructure of healthy SF is built from a network of vesicles with a size range from 100 to a few hundred nanometers. A multilayered organization of the vesicle membranes was observed with a thickness of about 5 nm. LCM study of biological SF compared with synthetic SF showed that the microvesicles consist of a lipid-based membrane enveloping a glycoprotein gel. Thus, healthy SF has a discontinuous ultrastructure based on a complex network of microvesicles. This finding offers novel perspectives for the diagnosis and treatment of synovial joint diseases.
authors.affiliation: 1LaMCoS UMR5259,INSA-Lyon,CNRS,University of Lyon,69621 Villeurbanne,France.
authors.forename: Constantin I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Matei
authors.affiliation: 4UPSP ICE 2011-03-101,VetAgro Sup,Veterinary Campus,University Claude Bernard Lyon 1,University of Lyon,69280 Marcy l'Etoile,France.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Boulocher
authors.affiliation: 3CTmu,University Claude Bernard Lyon 1,University of Lyon,69622 Villeurbanne,France.
authors.forename: Christelle
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Boulé
authors.affiliation: 4UPSP ICE 2011-03-101,VetAgro Sup,Veterinary Campus,University Claude Bernard Lyon 1,University of Lyon,69280 Marcy l'Etoile,France.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schramme
authors.affiliation: 4UPSP ICE 2011-03-101,VetAgro Sup,Veterinary Campus,University Claude Bernard Lyon 1,University of Lyon,69280 Marcy l'Etoile,France.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Viguier
authors.affiliation: 4UPSP ICE 2011-03-101,VetAgro Sup,Veterinary Campus,University Claude Bernard Lyon 1,University of Lyon,69280 Marcy l'Etoile,France.
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Roger
authors.affiliation: 1LaMCoS UMR5259,INSA-Lyon,CNRS,University of Lyon,69621 Villeurbanne,France.
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Berthier
authors.affiliation: 1LaMCoS UMR5259,INSA-Lyon,CNRS,University of Lyon,69621 Villeurbanne,France.
authors.forename: Ana-Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Trunfio-Sfarghiu
authors.affiliation: 2ILM,UMR5306-CNRS,University Claude Bernard Lyon 1,University of Lyon,69622 Villeurbanne,France.
authors.forename: Marie-Geneviève
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Blanchin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs; D006736:Horses; D007596:Joints / Q000502:physiology; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D017348:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning Transmission; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D051381:Rats; D013582:Synovial Fluid; D022161:Transport Vesicles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure*