Effects of different concentrations of hypertonic glucose in the repair of tendon injury in rats

doi:10.12307/2025.942

Abstract

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Numerous clinical trials have demonstrated that hypertonic glucose prolotherapy promotes tendon injury healing, yet the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of different concentrations of hypertonic glucose on rat behavior, cellular morphology, tendon extracellular matrix components, and growth factors.
METHODS: Fifty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned into five groups: control blank, model, 5% glucose, 15% glucose, and 25% glucose groups, with 10 rats in each group. (1) Modeling: Except for the control blank group, all groups received an Achilles tendon injection of type I collagenase. (2) Intervention: The control blank and model groups received no treatment. The 5%, 15%, and 25% glucose groups received injections of 30 µL of 5%, 15%, and 25% glucose, respectively, into the right Achilles tendon once a week for 3 weeks. (3) Assessments: Behavioral assessments, hematoxylin-eosin staining, western blot, and RT-qPCR were conducted to assess type I collagen, type III collagen, transforming growth factor β1, vascular endothelial growth factor, and SCX expression levels in tendon tissue.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Behavioral analysis: Compared with the control blank group, the model group showed a significant reduction in 5-minute running distance (P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, the 25% glucose group exhibited a significant increase in 5-minute running distance (P < 0.05). (2) Compared with the control blank group, tendon tissue in the other groups showed varying degrees of collagen disarray, increased number of blood vessels, and increased number of cells. However, glucose-treated groups exhibited more orderly collagen alignment than the model group. (3) Compared with the control blank group, the mRNA expression of type I collagen α1 was reduced, and the mRNA expression of type III collagen was increased in the model group (P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, the 25% glucose group exhibited increased mRNA expression of type I collagen α1, while both the 15% and 25% glucose groups showed significantly decreased mRNA expression of type III collagen and increased SCX mRNA expression (P < 0.05). (4) Compared with the control group, the model group displayed reduced protein expression of type I collagen and increased protein expression of type III collagen and vascular endothelial growth factor (P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, the glucose intervention groups had decreased protein expression of type III collagen, with the 25% glucose group showing increased protein expression of type I collagen and the 15% glucose group exhibiting elevated protein expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and transforming growth factor β1 (P < 0.05). To conclude, hypertonic glucose promotes vascular endothelial growth factor and transforming growth factor β1 expression, modulates collagen synthesis, increases the content of type I collagen, and accelerates tendon healing. Furthermore, 25% hypertonic glucose concentration has the optimal intervention effect.

Key words: hypertonic glucose, prolotherapy, tendon injury, tendon healing, type I collagen, type III collagen, transforming growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor

CLC Number:

Zhou Lina, , Li Yun, , Liu Xixia, . Effects of different concentrations of hypertonic glucose in the repair of tendon injury in rats[J]. Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research, 2025, 29(32): 6885-6892.

Figures/Tables 5

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