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Cruz CJ, Yeater TD, Griffith JL, Allen KD. Vagotomy accelerates the onset of symptoms during early disease progression and worsens joint-level pathogenesis in a male rat model of chronic knee osteoarthritis. Osteoarthr Cartil Open 2024; 6:100467. [PMID: 38655014 PMCID: PMC11035058 DOI: 10.1016/j.ocarto.2024.100467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective Low vagal tone is common in osteoarthritis (OA) comorbidities and results in greater peripheral inflammation. Characterizing vagal tone's role in OA pathogenesis may offer insights into OA's influences beyond the articular joint. We hypothesized that low vagal tone would accelerate onset of OA-related gait changes and worsen joint damage in a rat knee OA model. Methods Knee OA was induced in male Sprague Dawley rats by transecting the medial collateral ligament and medial meniscus. Then, left cervical vagus nerve transection (VGX, n = 9) or sham VGX (non-VGX, n = 6) was performed. Gait and tactile sensitivity were assessed at baseline and across 12 weeks, with histology and systemic inflammation evaluated at endpoint. Results At week 4, VGX animals showed limping gait characteristics through shifted stance times from their OA to non-OA limb (p = 0.055; stance time imbalance = 1.6 ± 1.6%) and shifted foot strike locations (p < 0.001; spatial symmetry = 48.4 ± 0.835%), while non-VGX animals walked with a balanced and symmetric gait. Also at week 4, while VGX animals had a mechanical sensitivity (50% withdrawal threshold) of 13.97 ± 7.70 compared to the non-VGX animal sensitivity of 29.74 ± 9.43, this difference was not statistically significant. Histologically, VGX animals showed thinner tibial cartilage and greater subchondral bone area than non-VGX animals (p = 0.076; VGX: 0.80 ± 0.036 mm2; non-VGX: 0.736 ± 0.066 mm2). No group differences in systemic inflammation were observed at endpoint. Conclusions VGX resulted in quicker onset of OA-related symptoms but remained unchanged at later timepoints. VGX also had thinner cartilage and abnormal bone remodeling than non-VGX. Overall, low vagal tone had mild effects on OA symptoms and joint remodeling, and not at the level seen in common OA comorbidities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos J. Cruz
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Pain Research and Intervention Center of Excellence, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Taylor D. Yeater
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Pain Research and Intervention Center of Excellence, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Jacob L. Griffith
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Pain Research and Intervention Center of Excellence, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Kyle D. Allen
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Pain Research and Intervention Center of Excellence, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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Thurlow NA, Chan KM, Yeater TD, Allen KD. Effects of Repeat Test Exposure on Gait Parameters in Naïve Lewis Rats. bioRxiv 2023:2023.04.19.537488. [PMID: 37131645 PMCID: PMC10153156 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.19.537488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Rodent gait analysis has emerged as a powerful, quantitative behavioral assay to characterize the pain and disability associated with movement-related disorders. In other behavioral assays, the importance of acclimation and the effect of repeated testing have been evaluated. However, for rodent gait analysis, the effects of repeated gait testing and other environmental factors have not been thoroughly characterized. In this study, fifty-two naïve male Lewis rats ages 8 to 42 weeks completed gait testing at semi-random intervals for 31 weeks. Gait videos and force plate data were collected and processed using a custom MATLAB suite to calculate velocity, stride length, step width, percentage stance time (duty factor), and peak vertical force data. Exposure was quantified as the number of gait testing sessions. Linear mixed effects models were used to evaluate the effects of velocity, exposure, age, and weight on animal gait patterns. Relative to age and weight, repeated exposure was the dominant parameter affecting gait variables with significant effects on walking velocity, stride length, fore and hind limb step width, fore limb duty factor, and peak vertical force. From exposure 1 to 7, average velocity increased by approximately 15 cm/s. Together, these data indicate arena exposure had large effects on gait parameters and should be considered in acclimation protocols, experimental design, and subsequent data analysis of rodent gait data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nat A. Thurlow
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Kiara M. Chan
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Department of Kinesiology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Taylor D. Yeater
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Kyle D. Allen
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Department of Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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Yeater TD, Griffith JL, Cruz CJ, Patterson FM, Aldrich JL, Allen KD. Hypertension contributes to exacerbated osteoarthritis pathophysiology in rats in a sex-dependent manner. Arthritis Res Ther 2023; 25:7. [PMID: 36635774 PMCID: PMC9835335 DOI: 10.1186/s13075-022-02966-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hypertension is a common comorbidity of osteoarthritis (OA) with known autonomic dysregulation; thus, the autonomic nervous system may provide a shared underlying mechanism. The objective of this study was to examine the role of the autonomic nervous system in a preclinical model of OA and hypertension. METHODS Experiments were conducted in spontaneously hypertensive rats and a normotensive control strain, including male and female rats. OA was surgically induced via medial meniscus transection with skin incision used as a sham control (n = 7-8/strain/sex/surgery). Tactile sensitivity, anxiety-related behavior, and serum corticosterone were measured at baseline then bi-weekly across 8 weeks. At weeks 9-10, cardiovascular responses to a chemical vagal nerve agonist were determined to indirectly evaluate vagus nerve function. The joint structure was assessed via grading of histological sections. RESULTS In males, OA resulted in thinner cartilage in both hypertensive (OA vs. non-OA p < 0.001) and normotensive (OA vs. non-OA p < 0.001). Only females with comorbid hypertension and OA displayed thinner cartilage (p = 0.013). Male hypertensive OA animals had increased calcified subchondral bone compared to normotensive OA animals (p = 0.043) while female hypertensive OA animals had increased calcified subchondral bone compared to hypertensive sham animals (p < 0.001). All MCLT+MMT groups developed low-grade synovitis; interestingly, hypertensive OA females had higher synovitis scores than normotensive OA females (p = 0.046). Additionally, hypertension led to larger drops in blood pressure with vagal activation in both OA (hypertensive vs. normotensive p = 0.018) and sham (hypertensive vs. normotensive p < 0.001) male animals. In females, this trend held true only in OA animals (normotensive vs. hypertensive p = 0.005). CONCLUSION These data provide preliminary evidence that hypertension influences OA progression and encourages further study into the autonomic nervous system as a possible mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taylor D. Yeater
- grid.15276.370000 0004 1936 8091J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, 1275 Center Drive, Biomedical Sciences Building, Gainesville, FL 32610 USA ,grid.15276.370000 0004 1936 8091Pain Research & Intervention Center of Excellence, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL USA
| | - Jacob L. Griffith
- grid.15276.370000 0004 1936 8091J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, 1275 Center Drive, Biomedical Sciences Building, Gainesville, FL 32610 USA ,grid.15276.370000 0004 1936 8091Pain Research & Intervention Center of Excellence, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL USA
| | - Carlos J. Cruz
- grid.15276.370000 0004 1936 8091J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, 1275 Center Drive, Biomedical Sciences Building, Gainesville, FL 32610 USA ,grid.15276.370000 0004 1936 8091Pain Research & Intervention Center of Excellence, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL USA
| | - Folly M. Patterson
- grid.15276.370000 0004 1936 8091J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, 1275 Center Drive, Biomedical Sciences Building, Gainesville, FL 32610 USA ,grid.15276.370000 0004 1936 8091Pain Research & Intervention Center of Excellence, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL USA ,grid.15276.370000 0004 1936 8091Department of Community Dentistry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL USA
| | - Jessica L. Aldrich
- grid.15276.370000 0004 1936 8091J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, 1275 Center Drive, Biomedical Sciences Building, Gainesville, FL 32610 USA ,grid.15276.370000 0004 1936 8091Pain Research & Intervention Center of Excellence, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL USA
| | - Kyle D. Allen
- grid.15276.370000 0004 1936 8091J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, 1275 Center Drive, Biomedical Sciences Building, Gainesville, FL 32610 USA ,grid.15276.370000 0004 1936 8091Pain Research & Intervention Center of Excellence, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL USA ,grid.15276.370000 0004 1936 8091Department of Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL USA
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Chan KM, Yeater TD, Allen KD. Age alters gait compensations following meniscal injury in male rats. J Orthop Res 2022; 40:2780-2791. [PMID: 35285977 PMCID: PMC9470788 DOI: 10.1002/jor.25306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Revised: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
With age, susceptibility to osteoarthritis (OA) and OA-related pain and disability increases. Like in OA patients, gait patterns in rodent OA models shift to protect the injured limb during loading. However, unlike in OA patients, it is unknown how age affects gait changes in rodent OA models. In this study, gait compensations following meniscal injury in 3-, 6-, and 9-month-old rats were evaluated to examine age-effects of OA-related joint dysfunction. Rats 3, 6, and 9 months received medial collateral ligament transection plus medial meniscus transection (MCLT + MMT) surgery (n = 8/age group) or a skin incision (n = 8/age group). Postsurgery, rats underwent gait testing at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks. Postmortem, joints were processed for histology to assess cartilage damage. MCLT + MMT rats walked with reduced vertical loading in their injured limbs immediately after injury and throughout OA progression. Compared to sham-operated limbs, 6- and 9-month MCLT + MMT animals reduced loading in their injured limbs while 3-month MCLT + MMT animals did not. MCLT + MMT rats also increased stance time on the injured limb compared to the contralateral limb. Additionally, for the MCLT + MMT animals, 6- and 9-month animals had significantly worse cartilage damage compared to 3-month animals. These data indicated age at injury onset affects how animals load the OA-affected joint, with older animals developing gait compensations that more markedly reduce weight on the injured limb during walking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiara M. Chan
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Taylor D. Yeater
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Kyle D. Allen
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Department of Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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Yeater TD, Cruz CJ, Cruz-Almeida Y, Allen KD. Autonomic Nervous System Dysregulation and Osteoarthritis Pain: Mechanisms, Measurement, and Future Outlook. Curr Rheumatol Rep 2022; 24:175-183. [PMID: 35420372 PMCID: PMC9189055 DOI: 10.1007/s11926-022-01071-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The autonomic nervous system is an important regulator of stress responses and exhibits functional changes in chronic pain states. This review discusses potential overlap among autonomic dysregulation, osteoarthritis (OA) progression, and chronic pain. From this foundation, we then discuss preclinical to clinical research opportunities to close gaps in our knowledge of autonomic dysregulation and OA. Finally, we consider the potential to generate new therapies for OA pain via modulation of the autonomic nervous system. RECENT FINDINGS Recent reviews provide a framework for the autonomic nervous system in OA progression; however, research is still limited on the topic. In other chronic pain states, functional overlaps between the central autonomic network and pain processing centers in the brain suggest relationships between concomitant dysregulation of the two systems. Non-pharmacological therapeutics, such as vagus nerve stimulation, mindfulness-based meditation, and exercise, have shown promise in alleviating painful symptoms of joint diseases, and these interventions may be partially mediated through the autonomic nervous system. The autonomic nervous system appears to be dysregulated in OA progression, and further research on rebalancing autonomic function may lead to novel therapeutic strategies for treating OA pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taylor D. Yeater
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.,Pain Research & Intervention Center of Excellence, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Carlos J. Cruz
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.,Pain Research & Intervention Center of Excellence, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Yenisel Cruz-Almeida
- Pain Research & Intervention Center of Excellence, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.,Department of Community Dentistry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.,Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Kyle D. Allen
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.,Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.,Pain Research & Intervention Center of Excellence, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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Yeater TD, Clark DJ, Hoyos L, Valdes-Hernandez PA, Peraza JA, Allen KD, Cruz-Almeida Y. Chronic Pain is Associated With Reduced Sympathetic Nervous System Reactivity During Simple and Complex Walking Tasks: Potential Cerebral Mechanisms. Chronic Stress (Thousand Oaks) 2021; 5:24705470211030273. [PMID: 34286166 PMCID: PMC8267022 DOI: 10.1177/24705470211030273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autonomic dysregulation may lead to blunted sympathetic reactivity in chronic pain states. Autonomic responses are controlled by the central autonomic network (CAN). Little research has examined sympathetic reactivity and associations with brain CAN structures in the presence of chronic pain; thus, the present study aims to investigate how chronic pain influences sympathetic reactivity and associations with CAN brain region volumes. METHODS Sympathetic reactivity was measured as change in skin conductance level (ΔSCL) between a resting reference period and walking periods for typical and complex walking tasks (obstacle and dual-task). Participants included 31 people with (n = 19) and without (n = 12) chronic musculoskeletal pain. Structural 3 T MRI was used to determine gray matter volume associations with ΔSCL in regions of the CAN (i.e., brainstem, amygdala, insula, and anterior cingulate cortex). RESULTS ΔSCL varied across walking tasks (main effect p = 0.036), with lower ΔSCL in chronic pain participants compared to controls across trials 2 and 3 under the obstacle walking condition. ΔSCL during typical walking was associated with multiple CAN gray matter volumes, including brainstem, bilateral insula, amygdala, and right caudal anterior cingulate cortex (p's < 0.05). The difference in ΔSCL from typical-to-obstacle walking were associated with volumes of the midbrain segment of the brainstem and anterior segment of the circular sulcus of the insula (p's < 0.05), with no other significant associations. The difference in ΔSCL from typical-to-dual task walking was associated with the bilateral caudal anterior cingulate cortex, and left rostral cingulate cortex (p's < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Sympathetic reactivity is blunted during typical and complex walking tasks in persons with chronic pain. Additionally, blunted sympathetic reactivity is associated with CAN brain structure, with direction of association dependent on brain region. These results support the idea that chronic pain may negatively impact typical autonomic responses needed for walking performance via its potential impact on the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taylor D. Yeater
- Pain Research & Intervention Center of Excellence, University of Florida, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - David J. Clark
- Department of Aging and Geriatric Research, University of Florida, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Brain Rehabilitation Research Center, Malcom Randall VA Medical Center, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Lorraine Hoyos
- Pain Research & Intervention Center of Excellence, University of Florida, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Department of Aging and Geriatric Research, University of Florida, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Pedro A. Valdes-Hernandez
- Pain Research & Intervention Center of Excellence, University of Florida, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Department of Aging and Geriatric Research, University of Florida, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Department of Community Dentistry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Florida, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Julio A. Peraza
- Pain Research & Intervention Center of Excellence, University of Florida, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Kyle D. Allen
- Pain Research & Intervention Center of Excellence, University of Florida, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, University of Florida, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Yenisel Cruz-Almeida
- Pain Research & Intervention Center of Excellence, University of Florida, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Department of Aging and Geriatric Research, University of Florida, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Department of Community Dentistry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Florida, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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