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Chronic Nicotine Exposure Minimally Affects Rat Supraspinatus Tendon Properties and Bone Microstructure

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Abstract

Cigarette smoking is the largest cause of preventable deaths, and a known risk factor for musculoskeletal issues including rotator cuff tendon tears. Tendon degeneration is believed to be due in part to changes in tendon cell health and collagen structure. Several studies have demonstrated that exposure to nicotine negatively impacts tendon healing, but surprisingly, nicotine exposure was shown to increase rat supraspinatus tendon stiffness. In order to address this seeming contradiction, the objective of this study was to comprehensively investigate the effects of long-term (18 weeks) exposure of nicotine on tendon-to-bone microstructural properties in a rat model. We hypothesized that long term subcutaneous nicotine delivery would lead to diminished tendon mechanical properties, decreased bone microstructure in the humeral head, and altered tendon cell morphology compared to age-matched control rats receiving saline. Results demonstrated a small decrease in tendon size and stiffness, with decreased cell density in the tendon midsubstance. However, no differences were found in the enthesis fibrocartilage or in the underlying subchondral or trabecular bone. In conclusion, our study revealed limited effects of nicotine on the homeostatic condition of the supraspinatus tendon, enthesis, and underlying bone. Future studies are needed to ascertain effects of other components of tobacco products.

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Acknowledgments

Funding provided by the Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation Grant (#17-011) and the NIH/NIAMS supported Penn Center for Musculoskeletal Disorders (P30 AR069619). We thank Ashley Fung for help with μCT assays.

Funding

Funding provided by the Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation Grant (#17-011) and NIH/NIAMS supported Penn Center for Musculoskeletal Disorders Grant (5P30AR069619).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. McKay Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, University of Pennsylvania, 3450 Hamilton Walk, 371 Stemmler Hall, Philadelphia, PA, 19104-6081, USA

    Julianne Huegel, Courtney A. Nuss, Peter Y. W. Chan, Adnan N. Cheema, Andrew F. Kuntz & Louis J. Soslowsky

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  1. Julianne Huegel
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  2. Courtney A. Nuss
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  3. Peter Y. W. Chan
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  4. Adnan N. Cheema
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  5. Andrew F. Kuntz
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  6. Louis J. Soslowsky
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Contributions

JH contributed to research design, data acquisition, analysis, interpretation, and drafting and editing the manuscript. CAN and PYWC contributed to data acquisition, analysis, and critical review of the manuscript. ANC contributed to research design, animal procedures, and critical review of the manuscript. AFK and LJS contributed to research design, interpretation, and critical review of the manuscript. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript for submission.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Louis J. Soslowsky.

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University of Pennsylvania IACUC (#806090).

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Associate Editor Michael S. Detamore oversaw the review of this article.

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10439_2020_2667_MOESM1_ESM.png

Supplemental Fig. 1. Representative full-length histology images with H&E stain (left) and Safranin-O stain (right) indicating regions of interest for mechanical properties (left) and histological assessments (right). Supplementary material 1 (PNG 893 kb)

10439_2020_2667_MOESM2_ESM.png

Supplemental Fig. 2. Representative loading curve (top) and corresponding tendon extension (bottom) demonstrate data from which viscoelastic (i.e. tendon stiffness) and quasi-static (stress relaxation) properties were calculated. The loading curve is labeled with specific elements of the test protocol including a pre-conditioning, b stress relaxation, and c ramp to failure. Supplementary material 2 (PNG 91 kb)

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Huegel, J., Nuss, C.A., Chan, P.Y.W. et al. Chronic Nicotine Exposure Minimally Affects Rat Supraspinatus Tendon Properties and Bone Microstructure. Ann Biomed Eng 49, 1333–1341 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-020-02667-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-020-02667-x

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