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Maturational alterations in gap junction expression and associated collagen synthesis in response to tendon function

Tendon degeneration is an age related pathology resulting in chronic pain, with associated healthcare cost. Horses show similar pathology in energy storing tendons and present a natural model for biomedical research. This paper demonstrates that the interactions between tendon cell communication through specific gap junctions is associated with differences in collagen synthesis capacity between energy storing (injury prone) tendons and positional tendons. This presents a potential therapeutic target for modulation of collagen synthesis in the prevention of tendon regeneration and in repair/ regeneration of matrix in the treatment of injury. I made substantial contributions to study conception and design.