Effect of exercising in water on the fibrocartilage of the deep digital flexor tendon in rats with induced diabetes.

Individuals with diabetes mellitus (DM) are affected four times more by tendinopathies than non-diabetics. On the other hand, physical activity helps to DM control. However, the effects of physical exercise in water (PEW) on the fibrocartilages present in the tendons of animals affected by DM are unknown. In this sense, the aim of this study was to analyze the structural organization and chemical composition of fibrocartilage present in the intermediate region of the deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT) of Wistar rats with alloxan-induced DM. Diabetic and non-diabetic animals were randomly separated into four experimental groups (n = 10): Non-Trained Control (NTC), Trained Control (TC), Non-Trained Diabetic (NTD), and Trained Diabetic (TD). TC and TD animals underwent the exercise protocol (total weekly training load - week 1: 14,375; 2: 16,500; 3: 18,375; 4: 20,000) and then were euthanized to collect tendon samples for analysis. The matrix basophilia was more intense in the TC and TD groups. The Decorin immunohistochemical test results showed greater intensity in the NTD and TD groups. The wet weight of the fibrocartilaginous region of the tendon (NTC:19.9 ± 0.06; TC:22.3 ± 0.05; NTD:20.3 ± 0.08; TD:21.8 ± 0.04 mg - p = 0.048), glycosaminoglycan amounts (NTC:3.21 ± 0.18; TC:3.98 ± 0.44; NTD:3.32 ± 0.19; TD:3.79 ± 0.28 µg/mg of fresh tissue - p = 0.046), and intumescence in water (NTC:13.8 ± 3.8; TC:24.3 ± 3.9; NTD:14.9 ± 3.9; TD:28.2 ± 5.3 % w/w - p = 0.042) were higher in the TC and TD groups. The TD group showed the highest levels of type I collagen and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-13. The TC group showed the highest and TD the lowest TGF-ß1 levels. In conclusion, the PEW was able to stimulate the deposition of proteoglycans, without inducing chemical changes that would cause histopathological modifications in fibrocartilage in the DDFT of adult rats. Thus, PEW preserves the structural organization of these tissues in tendons of animals affected by DM.

Acupuncture and moxibustion stimulate fibroblast proliferation and neoangiogenesis during tissue repair of experimental excisional injuries in adult female Wistar rats.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of acupuncture and moxibustion on the repair of excisional skin injuries on the back of adult female Wistar rats. METHODS: 90 animals were divided into three groups: C, control; A, acupuncture treatment (needled at traditional acupuncture points BL13, BL17 and ST36); M, moxibustion treatment (overlying same traditional acupuncture points). They were euthanased on days 7, 14 and 21 after injury for removal and preparation of tissue for analysis. RESULTS: The treated groups (A and M) showed no changes regarding the structural analysis relative to the control (C) group. The total number of fibroblast cells in the A and M groups were significantly higher than those in the C group on days 14 and 21. The number of granulocytes was significantly less in the A and M groups compared with the C group on days 14 and 21. The total number of newly formed vessels increased on day 21 and was significantly higher in the A and M groups. The amount of birefringent collagen fibre detected on day 21 was significantly higher in the C group. The amount of glycosaminoglycan and hydroxyproline was similar between the groups. The amount of collagen I did not differ between the groups in any period, despite the increased amount detected over time. The amount of type III collagen did not differ between the groups but the detected amount decreased over the course of the experiment. The amount of transforming growth factor ß1 (TGF-ß1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the A and M rats was similar but inferior to C rats across all experimental periods. CONCLUSIONS: Acupuncture and moxibustion stimulated fibroblast proliferation and neoangiogenesis, and extended the period of collagen fibre reorganisation in the repair of excisional injuries in adult female rats.