Innervation of the patella. An immunohistochemical study in mice

In the mouse, arthritis was induced by a single sub-patellar intraarticular injection of bacterial collagenase. This procedure induces also patellar malalignment. A rich innervation of thin varicose calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and substance P (SP) immunoreactive fibers was found in the joint capsule, in the periosteum of the patella, in the synovial tissues at the lateral border of the patella, in the femoral groove, and in the subchondral bone of the patella and femur. Moreover, fibers were found in plica tissues between the quadriceps and patellar tendon, and the femoral groove. After the collagenase treatment, the general innervation pattern was comparable to that of the controls, but CGRP and SP innervation was no longer detectable with the antibodies in the plica tissues, and was to a lesser extent detectable in the fat pad of the patella, in the lateral borders of the patella and in the proliferated synovial tissues. Signs of degenerated axonal profiles were observed in these locations with a polyclonal antibody to the growth-associated protein GAP-43/B-50. At all the other peripheral locations, such as the muscles, the GAP-43/B-50 distribution was normal.