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Morphological modifications of knee articular cartilage in bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus) (Anura: Ranidae) during postmetamorphic maturation

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Abstract

The organization of knee articular cartilage of the bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) differs in relation to morphofunctional adaptation in many aspects from similar structures in mammals. Thus, we investigated the structural organization and distribution of the extracellular matrix components in three articular cartilage regions in the distal epiphysis of the femur and proximal epiphysis of the tibia in male bullfrogs at 7, 540 and 1,080 days after metamorphosis. Cartilage thickness and cell density decreased in all regions with age. The basophilia differed among cartilage sites during aging. Calcium deposits were detected in growth cartilage of the femur and tibia in older animals. Immunohistochemical staining for chondroitin-6-sulfate was positive in the pericellular and territorial matrix in all samples. Positive immunostaining for type I collagen was observed in the superficial layer at all ages and in ossification centers of older animals. Reactivity to type II collagen was intense and was found throughout the stroma at all ages. Ultrastructural analysis of the epiphyseal region, in young animals, showed that the cytoplasm of chondrocytes was rich in rough endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi complex and mitochondria. In old animals, were observed a reduction in the size and number of mitochondria, disintegration of rough endoplasmic reticulum, and vacuolization of the Golgi complex. The bullfrog articular cartilage presented structural and organizational changes during aging which may contribute to the functional cartilage deterioration in old animals.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank CAPES/PROEX and Fundação Hermínio Ometto for the fellowship granted and for financial support and declare that have no conflict of interest in this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Discipline of Human Anatomy, Hermínio Ometto University Center, FHO|UNIARARAS, Av. Dr. Maximiliano Baruto, 500 Jd. Universitário, Araras, SP, 13607-339, Brazil

    André Hebling

  2. Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, Hermínio Ometto University Center (FHO|UNIARARAS), Av. Dr. Maximiliano Baruto, 500 Jd. Universitário, Araras, SP, 13607-339, Brazil

    Marcelo Augusto Marretto Esquisatto

  3. Department of Functional and Structural Biology, IB, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Av. Bertrand Russel, s/n, Cx. Postal 6109, Campinas, SP, 13083-865, Brazil

    André Hebling, Andrea Aparecida Aro & Laurecir Gomes

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  1. André Hebling
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  2. Marcelo Augusto Marretto Esquisatto
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  3. Andrea Aparecida Aro
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Correspondence to Marcelo Augusto Marretto Esquisatto.

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Communicated by A. Schmidt-Rhaesa.

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Hebling, A., Esquisatto, M.A.M., Aro, A.A. et al. Morphological modifications of knee articular cartilage in bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus) (Anura: Ranidae) during postmetamorphic maturation. Zoomorphology 133, 245–256 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00435-014-0218-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00435-014-0218-7

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