Ultrastructural and autoradiographic investigations of cell cultures derived from tendons or ligamentous material from patients with fibromatous disorders.

Cell cultures were derived from tendons or ligamentous material from patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), Dupuytren's contracture (DP), tendopathia nodosa (TN) and hallux valgus (HV). The ultrastructure of the operation specimens as well as of the cell monolayers was investigated, using a floating sheet method in order to preserve both cell-to-cell contacts and the orientation of the monolayers. The histologic features of the tissues obtained in the operations were correlated with the ultrastructure of the cells in culture derived from these specimens. In DP, above all in the nodules, an activation of the capillary endothelium in the vicinity of myofibroblasts and mast cells was observed. In CTS the collagen fibrils varied extremely in diameter. In DP and TN biopsies a splicing process of helicoidly arranged fibrils could be seen. A disintegration of elastic fibers in the fibrillar and amorphous components was found in DP nodules, HV and TN tissues. Transitional forms between fibroblasts and myofibroblasts were observed not only in DP but also-though in a smaller percentage--in the cultures derived from the other patients. The cells showed organelles for active protein synthesis and transport. Autophagocytosis and the formation of multilamellated bodies took place in TN and HV cultures. In CTS, DP and TN cultures cells were connected via gap junctions. In some cultures, above all in those derived from CTS, monocilia were found. In CTS cultures the formation of intracellular collagen occurred. Growth parameters were rather low in HV cultures. PLmax (maximal pulse labelling index) values were higher in TN cultures than in DP and HV cultures. Plating efficiency (PE) values were higher in cultures derived from cell-rich and capillarized tissues than in biopsies with few cells.