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2017
Journal Article
Titel
Giant crystals inside mitochondria of equine chondrocytes
Abstract
The present study reports for the first time the presence of giant crystals in mitochondria of equine chondrocytes. These structures show dark contrast in TEM images as well as a granular substructure of regularly aligned 1â2 nm small units. Different zone axes of the crystalline structure were analysed by means of Fourier transformation of lattice-resolution TEM images proving the crystalline nature of the structure. Elemental analysis reveals a high content of nitrogen referring to protein. The outer shape of the crystals is geometrical with an up to hexagonal profile in cross sections. It is elongated, spanning a length of several micrometres through the whole cell. In some chondrocytes, several crystals were found, sometimes combined in a single mitochondrion. Crystals were preferentially aligned along the long axis of the cells, thus appearing in the same orientation as the chondrocytes in the tissue. Although no similar structures have been found in the cartilag e of any other species investigated, they have been found in cartilage repair tissue formed within a mechanically stimulated equine chondrocyte construct. Crystals were mainly located in superficial regions of cartilage, especially in joint regions of well-developed superficial layers, more often in yearlings than in adult horses. These results indicate that intramitochondrial crystals are related to the high mechanical stress in the horse joint and potentially also to the increased metabolic activity of immature individuals.
Author(s)
Nürnberger, S.
Department of Trauma Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria & Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Experimental and Clinical Traumatology, AUVA Research Center, Donaueschingenstrasse 13, 1200 Vienna, Austria & University Clinic of Dentistry, Medical University of Vienna, Sensengasse 2a, 1090 Vienna, Austria & Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, Vienna, Austria
Rentenberger, C.
Physics of Nanostructured Materials, Faculty of Physics, University of Vienna, Boltzmanngasse 5, 1090 Vienna, Austria
Schädl, B.
Schädl, B.Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Experimental and Clinical Traumatology, AUVA Research Center, Donaueschingenstrasse 13,1200 Vienna, Austria & University Clinic of Dentistry, Medical University of Vienna, Sensengasse 2a, 1090 Vienna, Austria & Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, Vienna, Austria
Ponomarev, I.
Research Centre for Medical Technics and Biotechnology, Geranienweg 7, 99947 Bad Langensalza, Germany
Marlovits, S.
Department of Trauma Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria & Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, Vienna, Austria
Meyer, C.
Clinic and Polyclinic for Traumatology, University of Giessen, Rudolf-Buchheim-Straße 7, 35385 Giessen, Germany & Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Klinikum Saarbrücken, Winterberg 1, 66119 Saarbrücken, Germany