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Effect of high intensity aerobic exercise and mesterolone on remodeling of Achilles tendon of C57BL/6 transgenic mice

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Abstract

The effect of mesterolone and intensive treadmill training (6 weeks, 5 days/week, means: 15.82 m/min and 45.8 min/day) in Achilles tendon remodeling was evaluated. Sedentary mice treated with mesterolone (Sed-M) or vehicle (Sed-C, placebo/control) and corresponding exercised (Ex-M and Ex-C) were examined. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was used for determining collagen bands and hydroxyproline concentration. Collagen fibril diameter, the area and number of fibrils contained in an area probe, and the ultrastructure of fibroblasts (tenocytes) were determined. The presence of collagen was notable in the tendons of all groups. Collagen α1/α2 bands in Sed-M, Ex-C, and Ex-M were higher than in Sed-C, as shown by hydroxyproline content, but collagen β-chain appeared only in Ex-C. Noticeable bands of non-collagenous proteins were found in Sed-M and Ex-M. The number of fibrils in the area probe increased markedly in Sed-M and Ex-C (12-fold), but their diameter and area were unchanged compared with Sed-C. In Ex-M, the fibril number decreased by three–fold to 3.5-fold compared with Sed-M and Ex-C, whereas diameter and area increased. Sed-C tenocytes appeared quiescent, whereas those in the other groups seemed to be engaged in protein synthesis. The density of tenocytes was smaller in Sed-C than in Ex-C, Sed-M, and Ex-M. Thus, mechanical stimuli and mesterolone alter the morphology of tenocytes and the composition of the tendon, probably through fibrillogenesis and/or increased intermolecular cross-links. The ergogenic effect is evidenced by the activation of collagenous and non-collagenous protein synthesis and the increase in the diameter and area of collagen fibrils. This study might be relevant to clinical sports medicine.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Mrs. Marta B. Leonardo for technical assistance. Thanks are also due to Dr. Helena C.F. Oliveira and Mr. Lecio D. Teixeira (both from the Department of Physiology and Biophysics) for providing the animals and caring for them, respectively, and to the Department of Anatomy for surgery facilities. The authors declare no conflict of interest that would prejudice the impartiality of this research.

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Author notes

  1. Tatiana Carla Tomiosso

    Present address: Interdisciplinary Department - PURO, Federal Fluminense University - UFF, Rio das Ostras, 28890-000, RJ, Brazil

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas-UNICAMP, P.O. Box 6111, 13083-970, Campinas, SP, Brazil

    Karina Fontana

  2. Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiology and Biophysics, University of Campinas-UNICAMP, 13083-970, Campinas, SP, Brazil

    Fernanda M. Almeida, Tatiana Carla Tomiosso & Edson Rosa Pimentel

  3. Department of Histology and Embryology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas-UNICAMP, P.O. Box 6109, 13083-970, Campinas, SP, Brazil

    Karina Fontana & Maria Alice da Cruz Höfling

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  1. Karina Fontana
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  2. Fernanda M. Almeida
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  5. Maria Alice da Cruz Höfling
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Correspondence to Maria Alice da Cruz Höfling.

Additional information

This study was supported by grants from the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP; Proc. 04/13767-9) and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq; Proc. 522131/95-6). K.F., who was a PhD student during the period of this work received a scholarship from FAPESP (Proc. 04/13768-5). M.A.C.H. is I-A researcher fellow of CNPq.

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Fontana, K., Almeida, F.M., Tomiosso, T.C. et al. Effect of high intensity aerobic exercise and mesterolone on remodeling of Achilles tendon of C57BL/6 transgenic mice. Cell Tissue Res 339, 411–420 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-009-0894-7

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