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Ultrastructure and three-dimensional architecture of the anterior cruciate ligament in the knee joints of young and old monkeys

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Abstract

We examined the ultrastructure of the anterior cruciate ligament and assessed age-related changes by comparing the ligaments of young and old monkeys. Ultrathin sections of the anterior cruciate ligament were observed by transmission electron microscopy. The three-dimensional architecture of collagen fibers in the ligament was examined by scanning electron microscopy after tissue specimens were treated with 2 N NaOH to digest the extracellular matrix. At the surface layer of the cruciate ligament in young monkeys, fusiform-shaped fibroblasts actively produced collagen fibrils. The ligament consisted of parallel bundles of dense collagen fibrils of approximately 200 nm in diameter. Collagen fibrils appeared to run linearly. Ligament fibrocytes in the deep layer had a stellate form. Ligament fibrocytes decreased in number and showed marked atrophy in old age. Collagen fibrils had a looser configuration in older monkeys. Despite atrophy of fibroblasts in the deep layer of the anterior cruciate ligament, the area with atrophic fibroblasts in the ligament expands with age, which can likely cause deterioration of and a reduction in collagen fibers. This information can be applied in studies on the cause of the low repair ability of and aging-related changes in the anterior cruciate ligament in humans.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are deeply grateful to Miss Aiko Yasuda and Mr. Hiroaki Kawazato for assistance with the experiments. We would like to thank Editage (www.editage.jp) for English language editing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Oita University, 1-1 Idaigaoka Hasama-machi, Yufu, Oita, 879-5593, Japan

    Nobuhiro Kaku, Ai Tanaka, Tomonori Tabata, Hiroaki Tagomori & Hiroshi Tsumura

  2. Oita College of Judo Therapy and Acupuncture-Moxibustion, 1-1 Chiyo machi, Oita, Oita, Japan

    Tatsuo Shimada & Tetsuo Ando

Authors
  1. Nobuhiro Kaku
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  2. Tatsuo Shimada
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  3. Ai Tanaka
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  5. Tomonori Tabata
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  6. Hiroaki Tagomori
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  7. Hiroshi Tsumura
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Correspondence to Nobuhiro Kaku.

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Kaku, N., Shimada, T., Tanaka, A. et al. Ultrastructure and three-dimensional architecture of the anterior cruciate ligament in the knee joints of young and old monkeys. Med Mol Morphol 53, 7–14 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00795-019-00224-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00795-019-00224-7

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