Structural distribution of elastic fibers in tendon
Imaging techniques such as 2-photon microscopy and transmission electron microscopy can be used to view the distribution of elastic fibers within tendon. Detailed analysis of elastic fiber topography can be performed using our novel fiber analysis algorithm.
Enzymatic degradation of elastic fibers
Sub-failure mechanical testing of tendon before and after incubation in elastase solution reveals how elastic fiber degradation affects tendon properties.
Characterization of elastinopathic mouse models
Comprehensive mechanical, structural, and compositional analysis of tendons from genetically modified mouse models elucidates the roles of distinct elastic fiber components and associated proteins.
Roles of elastic fibers in functionally distinct tendons
The importance of elastic fibers depends on in vivo tendon function. Our data demonstrates that elastic fibers play a more prominent role in tendons that have greater mechanical demands, such as the Achilles tendon.
Publications
5. Dysregulated assembly of elastic fibers in fibulin-5 knockout mice results in a tendon-specific increase in elastic modulus. Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials. 2021 Jan;113:104134. doi: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2020.104134. [PubMed]
4. Eekhoff JD, Lake SP: Three-dimensional computation of fiber orientation, diameter, and branching in segmented image stacks of fibrous networks. Royal Society Interface. 2020 Aug;17(169):20200371. doi: 10.1098/rsif.2020.0371[PubMed]
3. Hill JR, Eekhoff JD, Brophy RH, Lake SP: Elastic fibers in orthopaedics: form and function in tendons and ligaments, clinical implications, and future directions. Journal of Orthopedic Research. doi: 10.1002/jor.24695 [PubMed]
2. Eekhoff JD, Fang F, Kahan LG, Espinosa MG, Cocciolone A, Wagenseil JE, Mecham RP, Lake SP: Functionally distinct tendons from elastin haploinsufficient mice exhibit mild stiffening and tendon-specific structural alteration. Invited for special issue: “Spotlight on the Future of Musculoskeletal Biomechanics.” Journal of Biomechanical Engineering, 139(11):111003, 2017. [PubMed]
1. Fang F, Lake SP: Multiscale mechanical integrity of human supraspinatus tendon in shear after elastin depletion. Journal of Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, 63:443-455, 2016. [PubMed]