The effects of high-fat diet, branched-chainamino acids and exercise on female C57BL/6 mouse Achilles tendon biomechanical properties.
Bone Joint Res 2013;
2:186-92. [PMID:
24021530 PMCID:
PMC3774102 DOI:
10.1302/2046-3758.29.2000196]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives
The goals of this study were: 1) to determine if high-fat diet
(HFD) feeding in female mice would negatively impact biomechanical
and histologic consequences on the Achilles tendon and quadriceps
muscle; and 2) to investigate whether exercise and branched-chain
amino acid (BCAA) supplementation would affect these parameters
or attenuate any negative consequences resulting from HFD consumption.
Methods
We examined the effects of 16 weeks of 60% HFD feeding, voluntary
exercise (free choice wheel running) and BCAA administration in
female C57BL/6 mice. The Achilles tendons and quadriceps muscles
were removed at the end of the experiment and assessed histologically
and biomechanically.
Results
HFD feeding significantly decreased the Achilles tendon modulus
without histological alterations. BCAA administration significantly
decreased the stiffness of Achilles tendons in the exercised normal
diet mice. Exercise partially ameliorated both the weight gain and
glucose levels in the HFD-fed mice, led to a significant decrease
in the maximum load of the Achilles tendon, and an increase in the
average fibril diameter of the quadriceps femoris muscle. There
were significant correlations between body weight and several biomechanical
properties, demonstrating the importance of controlling obesity
for maintaining healthy tendon properties.
Conclusions
In summary, this study showed a significant impact of obesity
and body weight on tendon biomechanical properties with limited
effects of exercise and BCAAs.
Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2013;2:186–92.
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