Elsevier

Atherosclerosis

Volume 21, Issue 3, May–June 1975, Pages 371-389
Atherosclerosis

Research paper
Lipid in the Achilles' tendon: A comparative study

https://doi.org/10.1016/0021-9150(75)90050-7Get rights and content

Abstract

The tendo Achillis of man and its homologue from a fairly wide range of exotic animals, most of which had died in captivity from natural causes, have been examined for stainable lipid. Adiposity of the tendon was seen principally in man. Chondroid plaques, containing an abundance of intracellular triglycerides, are a normal feature in birds. Similar thickenings in the few reptiles examined were rich in phospholipids. Extracellular (perifibrous, interstitial) deposits of lipid with a high content of esterified cholesterol were found in more than 90% of human specimens, in 52% of other mammals and in 62.5 % of birds included in the survey. In general, lipid insudation of tendons increased with age and was less intense in animals than man. Aetiological factors and the relationship of extracellular lipid deposits in tendons to those in the arterial wall and dura mater are considered.

References (33)

  • R. Finlayson

    Spontaneous arterial disease in exotic animals

    J. Zool.

    (1965)
  • W. Grünberg

    Arteriosklerose bei Wildtieren

    Klin. Wschr.

    (1965)
  • R. Finlayson
  • F. Bohorquez

    Aortic Atherosclerosis in Exotic Animals

  • J.R. Crouse et al.

    Cholesterol distribution in the bulk tissues of man — Variation with age

    J. Clin. Invest.

    (1972)
  • C.W.M. Adams

    Tissue changes and lipid entry in developing atheroma

  • Cited by (17)

    • Age-related differences in gastrocnemii muscles and Achilles tendon mechanical properties in vivo

      2020, Journal of Biomechanics
      Citation Excerpt :

      CSA of the AT was larger in older individuals, which is similar to Stenroth et al. (2012), but in contrast with others (Onambele et al., 2006). It has been suggested that an increased tendon CSA in older adults could be the result of compositional changes, such as the accumulation of extracellular lipid deposits (Finlayson and Woods, 1975), while some suggest that an increase in CSA is a compensatory mechanism to counteract reduced tendon material properties with age (Stenroth et al., 2017). Based on the current data, there was a net reduction in stiffness, suggesting that increases in CSA did not fully offset the reduction in Young’s modulus (Stenroth et al., 2012).

    • The affinity of type I collagen for lipid in vitro

      1982, Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)/Protein Structure and Molecular
    View all citing articles on Scopus
    View full text