Eccentric training improves tendon biomechanical properties: a rat model

in Journal of Orthopaedic Research (2013), 31(1), 119-124

Introduction: The treatment of choice for tendinopathies is eccentric reeducation. Although the clinical results appear favourable, the biomechanical changes to the tissue are not yet clear. Even if the ... [more ▼]

Introduction: The treatment of choice for tendinopathies is eccentric reeducation. Although the clinical results appear favourable, the biomechanical changes to the tissue are not yet clear. Even if the mechanotransduction theory is commonly accepted, the physiology of tendons is not clearly understood. We aimed to better define the biomechanical and histological changes that affect healthy tendon after eccentric and concentric training. Materiel and Methods: This study compared the effects of 2 methods of training (eccentric (E) training and concentric (C) training) with untrained (U) rats. The animals were trained over a period of 5 weeks. The tricipital, patellar and Achilles tendons were removed, measured and a tensile test until failure was performed. A histological analysis (hematoxylin and eosin and Masson's trichrome stains) was also realized. Results: There was a significant increase in the rupture force of the patellar and tricipital tendons between the U and E groups. The tricipital tendons in the control group presented a significantly smaller cross-sectional area than the E- and C-trained groups, but none was constated between E and C groups. No significant difference was observed for the mechanical stress between the three groups for all three tendons. Histological studies demonstrated the development of a greater number of blood vessels and a larger quantity of collagen in the E group. Discussion and conclusion: The mechanical properties of tendons in rats improve after specific training, especially following eccentric training. Our results partly explained how mechanical loading, especially in eccentric mode, could improve the healing of tendon. [less ▲]

Mesenchymal Stem Cell Graft Improves Recovery after Spinal Cord Injury in Adult Rats through Neurotrophic and Pro-Angiogenic Actions.

in PLoS ONE (2012), 7(6), 39500

Numerous strategies have been managed to improve functional recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI) but an optimal strategy doesn't exist yet. Actually, it is the complexity of the injured spinal cord ... [more ▼]

Numerous strategies have been managed to improve functional recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI) but an optimal strategy doesn't exist yet. Actually, it is the complexity of the injured spinal cord pathophysiology that begets the multifactorial approaches assessed to favour tissue protection, axonal regrowth and functional recovery. In this context, it appears that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) could take an interesting part. The aim of this study is to graft MSCs after a spinal cord compression injury in adult rat to assess their effect on functional recovery and to highlight their mechanisms of action. We found that in intravenously grafted animals, MSCs induce, as early as 1 week after the graft, an improvement of their open field and grid navigation scores compared to control animals. At the histological analysis of their dissected spinal cord, no MSCs were found within the host despite their BrdU labelling performed before the graft, whatever the delay observed: 7, 14 or 21 days. However, a cytokine array performed on spinal cord extracts 3 days after MSC graft reveals a significant increase of NGF expression in the injured tissue. Also, a significant tissue sparing effect of MSC graft was observed. Finally, we also show that MSCs promote vascularisation, as the density of blood vessels within the lesioned area was higher in grafted rats. In conclusion, we bring here some new evidences that MSCs most likely act throughout their secretions and not via their own integration/differentiation within the host tissue. [less ▲]

Influence sur le tissu tendino(-musculaire) du mode de contraction en entraînement : modèle animal

in Julia, Marc; Hirt, Daniel; Croisier, Jean-Louis (Eds.) et al Tendon et jonction tendino-musculaire - De la biomécanique aux applications thérapeutiques (2011)

Placental growth factor: a tissue modelling factor with therapeutic potentials in neurology?

in Acta Neurologica Belgica (2011), 111(1), 10-7

Placental growth factor (PlGF) is an angiogenic factor that belongs to the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family. Besides its well known capacity to potentiate the angiogenic action of VEGF ... [more ▼]

Placental growth factor (PlGF) is an angiogenic factor that belongs to the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family. Besides its well known capacity to potentiate the angiogenic action of VEGF, PlGF also participates in inflammatory processes by attracting and activating monocytes; it plays therefore more specifically a role in pathological conditions. PIGF and its two receptors, VEGFR-1 and neuropilins (NRPs), are expressed in the brain and increase after experimental stroke, but their precise functions in the nervous system remain underexplored. In this review article, we summarize present knowledge on the role of PlGF in various nervous system disease processes. Given the available data, P1GF has neuroprotective and neurotrophic properties that make it an actor of considerable interest in the pathophysiology and potentially in the therapy of degenerative and traumatic brain or spinal cord diseases. [less ▲]

Intrinsic modification of tendon structure after concentric or excentric training

Poster (2010, November 25)

Introduction: It is well known that eccentric training is a successful way of treating chronic tendinopathy. Although clinical results are very positive, beneficial morphological and histological effects ... [more ▼]

Introduction: It is well known that eccentric training is a successful way of treating chronic tendinopathy. Although clinical results are very positive, beneficial morphological and histological effects have not yet been elucidated. The aim of our experiment was to determine if there exist any intrinsic modifications in a tendon trained in concentric or eccentric modes, in a rat model, using an original method of measurement (cryo-jaws). Methods: 18 rats were divided into 3 groups: 6 for the control group, without physical restraint; 12 for a training of1 hour, 3 times a week, for 5 weeks, at a speed of 17m/min (1km/h), on a inclined treadmill: 6 rats running uphill at +15° for the concentric effort (group C) and 6 rats running downhill at -15° for the eccentric effort (group E). After this training period, the Achilles, patellar and tricipital tendons of both limbs were surgically removed in all 18 rats. Tendons taken from five rats of each group were subjected to a tensile test up to rupture using a “cryo” jaw. Tendons of the remaining rat of each group were subjected to a histological study. Results: The results showed significant changes in group E only: (1) an increase of the force required to rupture the patellar and tricipital tendons; (2) an improvement of the ratio between the force necessary to rupture the tricipital tendon and the body mass of the rats; (3) an increase of the surface area of the section of the tricipital tendon. No significant change was observed as far as constraint was concerned between groups. Histologically, we saw, in the group E, more peripheral blood vessels and a greater proportion of collagen. Conclusion: This study showed that the mechanical properties of tendon tissue are enhanced by eccentric training. Tendons become stronger, the amount of collagen increases and there is probably more interaction between collagen fibers (mechanotransduction). [less ▲]

Influence of the contraction mode on the tendon structure - Rat model

in 2nd Congress of European College of Sport & Exercise Physicians - Conference Brochure 2010: Abstracts and CVs (2010, September 09)

Introduction: Tendinopathies are common in sport and affect both upper and lower limbs. Eccentric rehabilitation is a successful way of treating them and now is becoming the “gold treatment”. Although ... [more ▼]

Introduction: Tendinopathies are common in sport and affect both upper and lower limbs. Eccentric rehabilitation is a successful way of treating them and now is becoming the “gold treatment”. Although clinical results are very favorable, beneficial morphological and histological effects have not yet been elucidated. The aim of our experiment was to determine if there exist any intrinsic modifications in a tendon trained in concentric or eccentric modes, in a rat model. Methods: 18 rats were divided into 3 groups: 6 for the control group, without physical restraint; 12 for a training of1 hour, 3 times a week, for 5 weeks, at a speed of 17m/min (1km/h), on a inclined treadmill: 6 rats running uphill at +15° for the concentric effort (group C) and 6 rats running downhill at -15° for the eccentric effort (group E). After this training period, the Achilles, patellar and tricipital tendons of both limbs were surgically removed in all 18 rats. Tendons taken from five rats of each group were subjected to a tensile test up to rupture using a “cryo” jaw. Tendons of the remaining rat of each group were subjected to a histological study. Results: The results showed significant changes in group E only: (1) an increase of the force required to rupture the patellar and tricipital tendons; (2) an improvement of the ratio between the force necessary to rupture the tricipital tendon and the body mass of the rats; (3) an increase of the surface area of the section of the tricipital tendon. No significant change was observed as far as constraint was concerned between groups. Histologically, we saw, in the group E, more peripheral blood vessels and a greater proportion of collagen. Conclusion: This study showed that the mechanical properties of tendon tissue are enhanced by eccentric training. Tendons become stronger, the amount of collagen increases and there is probably more interaction between collagen fibers (mechanotransduction). [less ▲]

STEM CELLS IN THE ADULT RAT SPINAL CORD: PLASTICITY AFTER INJURY AND TREADMILL TRAINING EXERCISE.

in Journal of Neurochemistry (2010), 112(3), 762-772

ABSTRACT Ependymal cells located around the central canal of the adult spinal cord are considered as a source of neural stem cells (NSCs) and represent an interesting pool of endogenous stem cells for ... [more ▼]

ABSTRACT Ependymal cells located around the central canal of the adult spinal cord are considered as a source of neural stem cells (NSCs) and represent an interesting pool of endogenous stem cells for repair strategies. Physical exercise is known to increase ependymal cell proliferation, while improving functional recovery. In this work, we further characterized those endogenous NSCs within the normal and injured adult rat spinal cord and investigated the effects of treadmill training using immunohistochemical and behavioural studies. In uninjured untrained rats, Sox-2, a NSC marker, was detected in all ependymal cells of the central canal, and also scattered throughout the parenchyma of the spinal cord. Within the lesion, Sox-2 expression increased transiently, while the number of nestin-positive ependymal cells increased with a concomitant enhancement of proliferation, as indicated by the mitotic markers Ki67 and BrdU. Exercise, which improved functional recovery and autonomous micturition, maintained nestin expression in both injured and uninjured spinal cords, with a positive correlation between locomotor recovery and the number of nestin-positive cells. [less ▲]

Neural differentiation potential of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells: misleading marker gene expression

in BMC Neuroscience (2009), 10

Background: In contrast to pluripotent embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells have been considered to be multipotent, being somewhat more restricted in their differentiation capacity and only giving rise ... [more ▼]

Background: In contrast to pluripotent embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells have been considered to be multipotent, being somewhat more restricted in their differentiation capacity and only giving rise to cell types related to their tissue of origin. Several studies, however, have reported that bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are capable of transdifferentiating to neural cell types, effectively crossing normal lineage restriction boundaries. Such reports have been based on the detection of neural-related proteins by the differentiated MSCs. In order to assess the potential of human adult MSCs to undergo true differentiation to a neural lineage and to determine the degree of homogeneity between donor samples, we have used RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry to investigate the basal expression of a range of neural related mRNAs and proteins in populations of non-differentiated MSCs obtained from 4 donors. Results: The expression analysis revealed that several of the commonly used marker genes from other studies like nestin, Enolase2 and microtubule associated protein 1b (MAP1b) are already expressed by undifferentiated human MSCs. Furthermore, mRNA for some of the neural-related transcription factors, e.g. Engrailed-1 and Nurr1 were also strongly expressed. However, several other neural-related mRNAs (e.g. DRD2, enolase2, NFL and MBP) could be identified, but not in all donor samples. Similarly, synaptic vesicle-related mRNA, STX1A could only be detected in 2 of the 4 undifferentiated donor hMSC samples. More significantly, each donor sample revealed a unique expression pattern, demonstrating a significant variation of marker expression. Conclusion: The present study highlights the existence of an inter-donor variability of expression of neuralrelated markers in human MSC samples that has not previously been described. This donor-related heterogeneity might influence the reproducibility of transdifferentiation protocols as well as contributing to the ongoing controversy about differentiation capacities of MSCs. Therefore, further studies need to consider the differences between donor samples prior to any treatment as well as the possibility of harvesting donor cells that may be inappropriate for transplantation strategies. [less ▲]

Expression and role of Placental Growth Factor (PLGF) in the inflammatory context resulting from nerve injury, the Wallerian Degeneration.

Poster (2008, October)

Recruitment of preserved spinal cord parenchyma after spinal cord injury in order to increase locomotor recovery

Poster (2008, March 08)