J Korean Orthop Assoc.  2001 Oct;36(5):415-421.

Origins of Dorsal Root Ganglion Cells Innervating Medial, Lateral Collateral Ligaments and Patellar Tendon of the Rat Knee Joint

• Shin SI
• Park IH
• Song GW
• Lee JY
• Park SJ
• Kwon DJ
• Ahn JH
• Hyun YS

Abstract

PURPOSE
The present study was designed to examine the distribution and type of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) cells innervating the medial and lateral collateral ligaments and patellar tendons of the rat knee joint.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We selectively injected neural tracers (FG and HRP) into both collateral ligaments and patellar tendons and then charaterized the distribution and type of DRG cells in section.
RESULTS
FG-labelled DRG cells, innervating the medial and lateral collateral ligaments, were located in L1-S3 (former) and L1-L5 (later). The HRP-labelled DRG cells innervating the medial and lateral collateral ligaments were smaller than 600 m2. FG-labelled DRG cells innervating the patellar tendons were found in L1 to S1. The HRP-labelled cells innervating the patellar tendons were variable in size (100 m2 to 3000 m2).
CONCLUSION
This study indicates that the DRG origins of sensory nerves in the collateral ligaments and the patellar tendon of the rat knee joint are different. The majority of DRG cells innervating the patellar tendons are proprioceptive and mechanoceptive sensory cells. This finding suggests that the patellar ligaments have more neurological functions than the collateral ligaments.

Keyword

Knee joint; Ligaments; Tendons; Dorsal root ganglion cells

MeSH Terms

Animals
Collateral Ligaments
Diagnosis-Related Groups
Ganglia, Spinal*
Knee Joint*
Knee*
Lateral Ligament, Ankle*
Ligaments
Patellar Ligament*
Rats*
Spinal Nerve Roots*
Tendons