Tendon cell ciliary length as a biomarker of in situ cytoskeletal tensional homeostasis.

To determine if tendon cell ciliary length could be used as a biomarker of cytoskeletal tensional homeostasis, 20 mm long adult rat tail tendons were placed in double artery clamps set 18 mm apart to create a 10% laxity. The tendons were allowed to contract over a 7 day period under culture conditions. At 0, 1, 5, and 7 days the tendon cell cilia were stained and ciliary length measured using confocal imaging.

Age-dependent effects of systemic administration of oxytetracycline on the viscoelastic properties of rat tail tendons as a mechanistic basis for pharmacological treatment of flexural limb deformities in foals.

Objective: To describe the effect of systemically administered oxytetracycline on the viscoelastic properties of rat tail tendon fascicles (TTfs) to provide a mechanistic rationale for pharmacological treatment of flexural limb deformities in foals.

Sample: TTfs from ten 1-month-old and ten 6-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats.

Procedures: 5 rats in each age group were administered oxytetracycline (50 mg/kg, IP, q 24 h) for 4 days.