Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 1989;59(3):239-42.
doi: 10.1007/BF02386194.

Effect of disuse on the ultrastructure of the achilles tendon in rats

Y Nakagawa  1 , M Totsuka, T Sato, Y Fukuda, K Hirota
Affiliations

Effect of disuse on the ultrastructure of the achilles tendon in rats

Y Nakagawa et al. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol. 1989.

Abstract

We examined the influence exerted, through disuse of the hindlimb, on the collagen fibres of the achilles tendon in rats. With disuse the body mass decreased by 28%, and the mass of soleus muscle decreased by 20%. A decrease in the surface area and diameter was observed in the experimental group when compared to the control group. A histogram of the collagen fibres showed a decrease of the thick fibres in the experimental group. The maximum surface area of collagen fibres in the experimental group was seen to be only 43% of that of the control group. These results showed a decrease in the thickness of the collagen fibres of the achilles tendon through disuse. This seemed to suggest that resistance to tension is decreased by disuse.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Endocrinology. 1984 Jun;114(6):2264-70 - PubMed
    1. J Appl Physiol (1985). 1987 Jun;62(6):2338-47 - PubMed
    1. Am J Physiol. 1967 Apr;212(4):783-7 - PubMed
    1. J Appl Physiol (1985). 1987 Aug;63(2):558-63 - PubMed
    1. Aviat Space Environ Med. 1985 Nov;56(11):1065-9 - PubMed