Abstract

In order to elucidate the morphological changes induced by testosterone on adult tendon tissue, 2, series of experiments were performed on adult rabbits. The first series of animals was injected in the gluteal muscles with testosterone propionate, in doeses of 10 mg. for injection, varying the number of injections from 2 to 6. In the second series, the hormone was injected directly into the Achilles tendon. Three different hormone derivatives were used: testosterone propionate dissolved in sesame oil; testosterone bisulphate and testosterone hemisuccinate, dissolved in phosphate buffer. The doses and the total number of injections were the same as for the first experimental series. The changes observed were qualitatively similar but quantitatively different in the two series of experiments, being far more marked in those tendons injected directly with the hormone. These changes, which became sharper as more injections were given, consisted of: (a) proliferation of the tendon cells; (b) transformation of the tenocytes into cells with the appearance of fibroblast and (c) presence, around these, of abundant newly-synthesized intercellular matrix. In the light of the results obtained, the possible clinical use of testosterone in certain tendon disease is considered. Verf.-Referat