Comparative nutrient pathways to the flexor profundus tendons in Zone II of various experimental animals.

The role of diffusion and vascular perfusion as nutrient pathways to Zone II of the flexor profundus tendon of various experimental animals was studied by measuring the uptake of tritiated proline by tendon segments. The uptake by the flexor profundus tendon of the chicken resembled the uptake by that of the monkey in that both diffusion and perfusion effectively provided nutrients to the tendon. In contrast, the uptake by the dog and rabbit profundus tendon differed from the primate; although the uptake by diffusion resembled that of the monkey, the uptake by vascular perfusion was poor. Clinical relevance. These results challenge the use of the dog and rabbit as appropriate experimental animals when vascular perfusion of the profundus tendon in Zone II is an essential component of study.