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Updated: Aug 25, 2026
Cryosectioning of Contiguous Regions of a Single Mouse Skeletal Muscle for Gene Expression and Histological Analyses
Published on: December 12, 2016
Assessment of mRNA levels for matrix molecules and TGF- beta1 in rabbit flexor and peroneus tendons reveals regional
M Berglund1, M Wiig, M Torstensson
1Department of Hand Surgery, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden and McCaig Centre for Joint Injury and Arthritis Research, University of Calgary, Canada.
Abstract:
This study analysed the differences on a molecular level between two segments of the deep flexor tendon, and compared the intrasynovial flexor tendon with the tendon sheath and the extrasynovial peroneus tendon in a rabbit model. The TRIspin method of RNA extraction was combined with the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction to assess mRNA levels in the tissue segments. Significant differences were detected for all genes studied. mRNA levels for aggrecan, biglycan and collagen III were significantly higher in the fibrocartilaginous proximal segment of the flexor tendon. Collagen I was higher in the flexor tendon than the sheath and the peroneus tendon, and TGF-beta1 was significantly lower in the peroneus tendon. This study demonstrates differences at the mRNA level between different segments of tendon, indicating that the tendon tissue may be adapted to its environment.
