Three‐dimensional characterization of the microstructure in rabbit patella–patellar tendon interface using propagation phase‐contrast synchrotron radiation microtomography

• Published in: Journal of synchrotron radiation Vol. 25; no. 6; pp. 1833 - 1840
• Main Authors: Zhou, Yongchun, Hu, Jianzhong, Zhou, Jingyong, Zeng, Ziteng, Cao, Yong, Wang, Zhanwen, Chen, Can, Zheng, Cheng, Chen, Huabin, Lu, Hongbin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 5 Abbey Square, Chester, Cheshire CH1 2HU, England International Union of Crystallography 01.11.2018; John Wiley & Sons, Inc
• Subjects: Animals; Beads; chondrocytes cell; Color coding; Feasibility Studies; Female; fibrocartilage layer; Imaging, Three-Dimensional - methods; Knee; Microstructure; Microtomography; Morphology; Patella; Patella - diagnostic imaging; Patellar Ligament - diagnostic imaging; patella–patellar tendon interface; Phase retrieval; PPC‐SRµCT; Propagation; Rabbits; Spatial resolution; Staining; Synchrotron radiation; Synchrotrons; X-Ray Microtomography - methods; PPC-SRµCT; 3D; chondrocytes cell; fibrocartilage layer; patella–patellar tendon interface
• ISSN: 1600-5775; 0909-0495; 1600-5775
• DOI: 10.1107/S160057751801353X

Understanding the three‐dimensional ultrastructure morphology of tendon‐to‐bone interface may allow the development of effective therapeutic interventions for enhanced interface healing. This study aims to assess the feasibility of propagation phase‐contrast synchrotron radiation microtomography (PPC‐SRµCT) for three‐dimensional characterization of the microstructure in rabbit patella–patellar tendon interface (PPTI). Based on phase retrieval for PPC‐SRµCT imaging, this technique is capable of visualizing the three‐dimensional internal architecture of PPTI at a cellular high spatial resolution including bone and tendon, especially the chondrocytes lacuna at the fibrocartilage layer. The features on the PPC‐SRµCT image of the PPTI are similar to those of a histological section using Safranin‐O staining/fast green staining. The three‐dimensional microstructure in the rabbit patella–patellar tendon interface and the spatial distributions of the chondrocytes lacuna and their quantification volumetric data are displayed. Furthermore, a color‐coding map differentiating cell lacuna in terms of connecting beads is presented after the chondrocytes cell lacuna was extracted. This provides a more in‐depth insight into the microstructure of the PPTI on a new scale, particularly the cell lacuna arrangement at the fibrocartilage layer. PPC‐SRµCT techniques provide important complementary information to the conventional histological method for characterizing the microstructure of the PPTI, and may facilitate in investigations of the repair mechanism of the PPTI after injury and in evaluating the efficacy of a different therapy. The first characterization of the three‐dimensional microstructure in rabbit patella–patellar tendon interface using propagation phase‐contrast synchrotron radiation micro‐computed tomography is presented.