The effects of substance P on the biomechanic properties of ruptured rat Achilles' tendon.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether injection of substance P into the paratendinous region of a ruptured and subsequently sutured rat Achilles' tendon alters the biomechanic properties of the tendon.

DESIGN

Interventional animal study.

SETTING

Animal laboratory at a university hospital.

ANIMALS

Ninety-six 2-month-old, male Sprague-Dawley rats.

INTERVENTION

Injection of saline, substance P (10(-6)micromol/kg of body weight [BW] or 10(-8)micromol/kg BW) associated with neutral endopeptidase inhibitors, or neutral endopeptidase inhibitors alone into the paratendinous region of ruptured and subsequently sutured rat Achilles' tendons from the second until the sixth day postoperatively.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Stress at maximal load and work to maximal load and stiffness.

RESULTS

Stress at maximal load was higher in the groups injected with substance P than in the saline group in the first, second, and sixth weeks. Work to maximal load was higher from the second until the sixth weeks in the substance P-treated groups than in the saline group. Stiffness did not differ between the 4 groups in any of the weeks.

CONCLUSIONS

Injection of substance P into the paratendinous region of ruptured and subsequently sutured rat Achilles' tendons improved tendon healing by enhancing stress at maximal load and work to maximal load. However, stiffness was not significantly affected.