pN collagen type III within tendon grafts used for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

• Published in: Journal of orthopaedic research 2001-09, Vol.19 (5), p.852-857
• Main Authors: Sluss, J.R, Liberti, J.P, Jiranek, W.A, Wayne, J.S, Zuelzer, W.A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Achilles Tendon - chemistry; Achilles Tendon - transplantation; Achilles Tendon - ultrastructure; Anterior Cruciate Ligament - surgery; Blotting, Western; Bone Transplantation; Fascia Lata - chemistry; Fascia Lata - transplantation; Fascia Lata - ultrastructure; Humans; Microscopy, Electron; Procollagen - analysis; Radioimmunoassay; Treatment Failure
• ISSN: 0736-0266; 1554-527X
• DOI: 10.1016/S0736-0266(01)00014-6

This study measured the amount of immature collagen type III present in tendon rafts obtained from anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructions. These values were compared with those obtained from control grafts typically used for reconstruction – Achilles, patellar, and fascia lata – and also to the normal ACL. Analyses were performed using a commercially available radioimmunoassay (RIA). The RIA made use of a rabbit polyclonal antibody specific to the amino terminus of procollagen type III. The specificity of the Ab was confirmed by a western blot. Fibril diameter of each of the above samples was measured by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). We thus were able to determine if there was a relationship between pN collagen III content and fibril diameter. The mean amount of pN collagen type III in the normal tendon control group was 0.8 ± 0.3 ng/μg total protein (range 0.0–2.5 ng/μg). There was significantly greater pN collagen III (16±3.7 ng/μg total protein) in the grafts containing an average fibril diameter