Anat Cell Biol.  2022 Sep;55(3):304-310. 10.5115/acb.22.005.

Quantification and comparison of tenocyte distribution and collagen content in the commonly used autografts for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

• Latiff S
• Olateju OI

• KMID: 2533356
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5115/acb.22.005

Abstract

Anterior cruciate ligament is a commonly damaged ligament of the knee. Reconstruction of this ligament usually entails the use of graft harvested from the same subject (i.e., autografts). Several tendons, for example quadriceps, patellar or semitendinosus tendon can be used as an autograft. The composition of the tendons is similar to the anterior cruciate ligament but there is no data that directly compares the compositions of the quadriceps, patellar and semitendinosus tendons. This study quantified and compared the tenocyte distribution and collagen content of these tendons from cadavers of South Africans of European Ancestry. The tenocyte distribution and collagen content were assessed using the ImageJ software. The results showed similarities in the collagen content across the tendons in both sexes (P>0.05). The tenocyte distribution was significantly higher in the quadriceps (P=0.019) or semitendinosus (P=0.016) tendon than in the patellar tendon in the female but no difference was seen in the male (P=0.872). This shows that a large harvestable area may not be directly associated with a more abundant collagen content or tenocyte distribution in the tendon. However, sex-specific tenocyte distribution is an important observation that underpins the possible influence of underlying biological factors on the composition of each tendon and this requires further investigations. In all, this study will contribute to knowledge and assist orthopaedic surgeons in making an informed decision on the choice of graft.

Keyword

Autografts; Tenocytes; Collagen; Tendons; Anterior cruciate ligament

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Illustrations of the approximate position where tissue block (dotted lines and drawn to scale for each tendon) was removed from the QT (A), PT (B), or ST (C). Tissue block of 1 cm×0.5 cm was removed at the centre of the QT or PT while 1 cm long tendon was removed at the mid-way of the semitendinosus tendon. QT, quadriceps tendon; P, patella; VM, vastus medialis; VL, vastus lateralis; PT, patellar tendon; ST, semitendinosus tendon; S, semitendinosus.

• 

  Fig. 2 Photomicrographs showing representative longitudinal sections of the quadriceps tendon (QT) (A, D), the patellar tendon (PT) (B, E), and the semitendinosus tendon (ST) (C, F). The micro-architecture of the three tendons were closely identical with the fascicles arranged in parallel and end-to-end in the longitudinal plane along the length of the tendons. In the H&E staining (A–C) (×63 objective lens), the blue-stained fibroblasts appeared spindle or flat in shape and were uniformly distributed in all the tendons. In the MT staining (D–F) (×10 objective lens), collagen appeared green-stained and appeared to be widely distributed in the fascicles.

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  Fig. 3 A box plot showing the comparison of the tenocyte distribution across the tendons (QT, PT, and ST) in the female and the male cadavers. Tenocyte distribution is significantly lower in the PT than in the QT or in the ST in the female cadavers but not in the male cadaver. QT, quadriceps tendon; PT, patellar tendon; ST, semitendinosus tendon. *P<0.05.

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  Fig. 4 A box plot showing the comparison of the percentage distribution of collagen across the tendons (QT, PT, and ST) in the female and the male cadavers. Percentage collagen distribution across the tendons is similar for both sexes. QT, quadriceps tendon; PT, patellar tendon; ST, semitendinosus tendon.

Reference

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