Ring-Mesh Model of Proteoglycan Glycosaminoglycan Chains in Tendon based on Three-dimensional Reconstruction by Focused Ion Beam Scanning Electron Microscopy.
Tendons are composed of collagen fibrils and proteoglycan predominantly consisting of decorin. Decorin is located on the d-band of collagen fibrils, and its glycosaminoglycan (GAG) chains have been observed between collagen fibrils with transmission electron microscopy. GAG chains have been proposed to interact with each other or with collagen fibrils, but its three-dimensional organization remains unclear. In this report, we used focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy to examine the three-dimensional organization of the GAG chain in the Achilles tendon of mature rats embedded in epoxy resin after staining with Cupromeronic blue, which specifically stains GAG chains. We used 250 serial back-scattered electron images of longitudinal sections with a 10-nm interval for reconstruction. Three-dimensional images revealed that GAG chains form a ring mesh-like structure with each ring surrounding a collagen fibril at the d-band and fusing with adjacent rings to form the planar network. This ring mesh model of GAG chains suggests that more than two GAG chains may interact with each other around collagen fibrils, which could provide new insights into the roles of GAG chains.
From the Faculty of Agriculture, Shinshu University, Minami-minowa, Kami-ina, Nagano 399-4598, Japan, yosenabe@shinshu-u.ac.jp.
Takafumi
T
Watanabe
Department of Instrumental Analysis, Research Center for Human and Environmental Science, Shinshu University, Asahi, Matsumoto, Nagano 390-8621, Japan.
Kiyokazu
K
Kametani
Research Institute of Biomatrix, Nippi Inc., Kuwabara, Toride, Ibaraki 302-0017, Japan.
Yoh-Ichi
YI
Koyama
Department of Musculoskeletal Biomechanics and Surgical Development, School of Medicine, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-8556, Japan.
Daisuke
D
Suzuki
Department of Chemistry and Life Science, School of Advanced Engineering, Kogakuin University, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0015, Japan, and.
Yasutada
Y
Imamura
School of Veterinary Medicine, Rakuno Gakuen University, Ebetsu, Hokkaido 069-8501, Japan.
Kazushige
K
Takehana
From the Faculty of Agriculture, Shinshu University, Minami-minowa, Kami-ina, Nagano 399-4598, Japan.
Kohzy
K
Hiramatsu
D000125:Achilles Tendon / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D000818:Animals; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning / Q000379:methods*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D011509:Proteoglycans
chondroitin sulfate; collagen; decorin; dermatan sulfate; focused ion beam scanning electron microscope; proteoglycan structure; ring mesh; tendon