Kääb M J, Gwynn I A, Nötzli H P
AO/ASIF Research Institute, Davos, Switzerland.
J Anat. 1998 Jul;193 ( Pt 1)(Pt 1):23-34. doi: 10.1017/s0021878298003744.
Experimental animal models are frequently used to study articular cartilage, but the relevance to man remains problematic. In this study animal models were compared by examination of the collagen fibre arrangement in the medial tibial plateau of human, cow, pig, dog, sheep, rabbit and rat specimens. 24 cartilage samples from each species were prepared and maximum cartilage thickness in the central tibial plateau measured. Samples were fixed, dehydrated, freeze-fractured and imaged by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). At low magnification, 2 different arrangements of collagen fibres were observed: leaf-like (human, pig, dog) and columnar (cow, sheep, rabbit, rat). The porcine collagen structure was the most similar to that of man. This arrangement was consistent from the radial to the upper zones. Under higher magnification at the surface of the leaves, the collagen was more randomly oriented, whereas the columns consisted of parallel collagen fibrils. The maximum thickness of cartilage did not correlate with the type of collagen arrangement but was correlated with the body weight of the species (r = 0.785). When using animal models for investigating human articular cartilage function or pathology, the differences in arrangement of collagen fibres in tibial plateau cartilage between laboratory animals should be considered especially if morphological evaluation is planned.
实验动物模型经常被用于研究关节软骨，但与人类的相关性仍存在问题。在本研究中，通过检查人类、牛、猪、狗、羊、兔和大鼠标本的胫骨内侧平台的胶原纤维排列来比较动物模型。从每个物种制备24个软骨样本，并测量胫骨平台中央的最大软骨厚度。样本经过固定、脱水、冷冻断裂，然后用扫描电子显微镜（SEM）成像。在低倍放大下，观察到两种不同的胶原纤维排列方式：叶状（人类、猪、狗）和柱状（牛、羊、兔、大鼠）。猪的胶原结构与人类的最为相似。这种排列从径向到上部区域是一致的。在叶表面的高倍放大下，胶原的取向更随机，而柱状结构由平行的胶原原纤维组成。软骨的最大厚度与胶原排列类型无关，但与物种的体重相关（r = 0.785）。当使用动物模型研究人类关节软骨功能或病理时，应考虑实验动物胫骨平台软骨中胶原纤维排列的差异，尤其是在计划进行形态学评估时。
