Abstract des Autors

This study was designed to elucidate the collagen fibril architecture in the murine anulus fibrosus and to reveal the collagen fibril dynamics induced by hormones which are known to influence protein synthesis, the anabolic steroid hormones. These aims were entered in an ultrastructural morphometric analysis. The diameter distributions, mean diameter, cross-sectional area and volume density of the collagen fibrils in the anulus fibrosus indicate no correlation with age, which is in contrast to the anatomy of the collagenous functional structures in tendon. After treatment with the anabolic steroid hormone, an activation of the collagen synthesis as well as an enhanced density and cross-sectional area were detected. Therefore, the data promise an effective use of anabolic steroid hormones in the therapy of such disorders of connective tissue, which could be treated with a stimulation of the synthesis and hypertrophy of collagen fibrils. Verf.-Referat