Effects of Acute Inflammation Induced in the Rat Paw on the Deep Digital Flexor Tendon

The tendon is commonly affected by inflammation, and in such situations, the tissue undergoes a process of reorganization of the extracellular matrix to improve and regenerate the affected region. Little is known about the mechanisms that trigger inflammation in the tissues surrounding the affected area. The objective of this study was to biochemically and morphologically analyze the deep digital flexor tendon at the peak of acute inflammation in the rat paw. Wistar rats were divided into the following three groups: those that received injection of 1% carrageenan, those that received 0.9% NaCl, and those that received nothing. The deep digital flexor tendon was divided into the distal, proximal, and intermediate regions. For biochemical analysis, the tendons were treated with guanidine hydrochloride and analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrilamide gel electrophoresis. Proteins, glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), and hydroxyproline were quantified, and metalloproteinases were analyzed. The GAGs were analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis. Tissue sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin, toluidine blue, and Ponceau SS. The content of proteins and GAGs was smaller in the group receiving the application of carrageenan. The concentration of hydroxyproline in the two tendon regions that respond to tension forces was higher in the inflammation group. The metalloproteinase-9 was detected in the distal region, and a thicker epitenon with cellular infiltrate was observed in the groups with inflamed paws. Meanwhile, a better organization of collagen bundles was observed in the two tension regions of that same group. Our results show that although the tendon was not directly inflamed, changes in the surrounding structural and biochemical parameters were observed.