| Objective: To explore the aging changes regularity of the distribution,morphology and quantity of mechanoreceptors in anterior cruciate ligament(ACL)of healthy rabbit.Methods: Complete ACL longitudinal frozen section were collected from 18 New Zealand white rabbits who were sacrificed by air embolization of auricular veins.The rabbits were divided into 6 groups according to the age(1 week,6 weeks,3 months,6months,1 year and 2 years,3 rabbits in each group).After H&E staining,S-100 and NF-160 immunofluorescence labeling,the morphology,type,and quantity of the mechanoreceptors were observed under an optical microscope,laser confocal microscope and computer image analysis system.Results: There are five kinds of mechanoreceptors in rabbit ACL,namely Ruffini corpuscle,Pacini corpuscle,Golgi tendon body,free nerve endings and atypical mechanoreceptors.A total of 339 mechanoreceptors were found in all 1008 sections of 6 groups,including 168 Ruffini corpuscles,89 Pacini corpusclees,42 Golgi tedon organ like corpuscles and 40 atypical mechanoreceptors.Most mechanoreceptors were distributed in synovium near tibia and femur of ACL.In terms of total number,there was significant difference among the groups(P<0.01).Comparing each two groups,there are most mechanoreceptors at 3 and 6 months,with no significant difference(P > 0.05),and there was significant difference among the other groups(P< 0.05).Conclusion: The results of this study show that the mechanoreceptors in ACL in healthy rabbits are mostly distributed in the synovium near the ACL tibial and femoral attachment points.Free nerve endings were most in ACL,followed by Ruffini corpuscle,Pacinian corpuscle and Golgi tedon organ like corpuscle.The total number of mechanoreceptors increased with age,reaching a peak in 3-months group,similar in 6-months group,and decreased significantly in one-year group and two-year group. |
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