Description
- Abstract:
- Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries account for nearly 50% of all knee injuries, with over 200,000 cases annually in the United States. Centrally located in the knee joint, the ACL contributes to sensorimotor regulation through embedded mechanoreceptors that facilitate proprioception and maintain joint stability via ligament-induced neuromuscular reflexes. Damage to the ACL disrupts these pathways, increasing the risk of re-injury. Establishing a baseline quantification of mechanoreceptors in healthy, native ACLs is therefore essential to assess neural restoration following surgical interventions. One such intervention, the Bridge-Enhanced ACL Repair (BEAR) technique, promotes intrinsic healing rather than relying on graft replacement. Because BEAR preserves native tissue, it is hypothesized to better retain or support the regeneration of mechanoreceptors, potentially restoring proprioceptive function more effectively than traditional methods. This study aimed to characterize the total number and spatial distribution of mechanoreceptors in healthy, native porcine ACLs. Mechanoreceptor presence was mapped along the insertion-ligament-insertion axis and across the ligament’s transverse width through its sagittal slices to establish a foundational reference for future comparisons with reconstructed and BEAR-repaired tissues. Additionally, an optimized histological staining protocol was developed to enhance visualization and quantification. A total of 429 mechanoreceptors were identified by Examiner 1 and 539 by Examiner 2, with an inter-examiner overlap of 88.6%. These counts exceed those reported in earlier studies, likely due to improved staining techniques and detailed evaluation protocols. Mechanoreceptors were most densely concentrated at the ligament’s insertion sites but were also observed in the mid-substance. This spatial pattern aligns with trends reported in existing literature, reinforcing the biological relevance of the findings. Across the transverse width, a distinct pattern of increasing mechanoreceptor presence from the center toward one end was observed. Overall, this study contributes key anatomical and methodological insights to the field of ligament neurobiology. It provides an optimized approach for mechanoreceptor staining and quantification and establishes a critical reference point for evaluating proprioceptive restoration in ACL repair, particularly for biologically driven approaches like BEAR.
- Notes:
- Thesis (Sc. M.)--Brown University, 2025
Citation
Kadaba, Amulya,
"Quantifying Mechanoreceptors in a Porcine ACL: A Comparative Analysis of Histological Staining Methods"
(2025).
Biomedical Engineering Theses and Dissertations.
Brown Digital Repository. Brown University Library.
https://repository.library.brown.edu/studio/item/bdr:tfqc5fet/
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Biomedical Engineering Theses and Dissertations
Theses and Dissertations for the Biomedical Engineering department....