Asymptomatic Hyperuricemia Is Associated with Achilles Tendon Rupture through Disrupting the Normal Functions of Tendon Stem/Progenitor Cells

Figure 4

Characterization of the AT tissue from the experimental rat model of hyperuricemia. (a–c) Representative sections of AT from rats intragastrically administered with 0.5% sodium carboxymethylcellulose () or UA (). Tendon tissues showed remarkable differences in the morphology by hematoxylin and eosin staining ((a), left) and in the collagen expression by Masson’s trichrome (MT) staining ((a), middle) and Sirius red staining ((a), right). . (b, c) Representative sections were stained for CD3 (b) and CD68 (c) in red, and nuclei were stained with Hoechst 33258 (blue). . (d–g) Comparison of mechanical testing results of the rat AT tissue postinduction of UA () or the vehicle control () in the failure load (d), the ultimate stress level (e), the stiffness (f), and the levels of Young’s modulus (g). Values are the of average data from 2 independent experiments. ; versus vehicle alone.

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