This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: biophysj.107.107847v1 93/7/2472    most recent Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Hadian, M. Articles by Bradshaw, J. P. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Hadian, M. Articles by Bradshaw, J. P.

Collagen Organization in Canine Myxomatous Mitral Valve Disease: An X-Ray Diffraction Study

Mojtaba Hadian ^*, Brendan M. Corcoran , Richard I. Han , J. Günter Grossmann  and Jeremy P. Bradshaw ^*

^* Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Summerhall, Edinburgh EH9 1QH, United Kingdom; Hospital for Small Animals, Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Easter Bush Veterinary Centre, University of Edinburgh, Roslin Midlothian EH25 9RG, United Kingdom; Science and Technology Facilities Council Daresbury Laboratory, Daresbury Science and Innovation Campus, Warrington WA4 4AD, United Kingdom

Correspondence: Address reprint requests to Mojtaba Hadian, Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Summerhall, Edinburgh EH9 1QH, UK. Tel.: 44-131-650-6142; Fax: 44-131-650-6511; E-mail: m.hadian{at}ed.ac.uk.

Collagen fibrils, a major component of mitral valve leaflets, play an important role in defining shape and providing mechanical strength and flexibility. Histopathological studies show that collagen fibrils undergo dramatic changes in the course of myxomatous mitral valve disease in both dogs and humans. However, little is known about the detailed organization of collagen in this disease. This study was designed to analyze and compare collagen fibril organization in healthy and lesional areas of myxomatous mitral valves of dogs, using synchrotron small-angle x-ray diffraction. The orientation, density, and alignment of collagen fibrils were mapped across six different valves. The findings reveal a preferred collagen alignment in the main body of the leaflets between two commissures. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of the data showed significant differences between affected and lesion-free areas in terms of collagen content, fibril alignment, and total tissue volume. Regression analysis of the amount of collagen compared to the total tissue content at each point revealed a significant relationship between these two parameters in lesion-free but not in affected areas. This is the first time this technique has been used to map collagen fibrils in cardiac tissue; the findings have important applications to human cardiology.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				G. Krishnamurthy, D. B. Ennis, A. Itoh, W. Bothe, J. C. Swanson, M. Karlsson, E. Kuhl, D. C. Miller, and N. B. Ingels Jr. Material properties of the ovine mitral valve anterior leaflet in vivo from inverse finite element analysis Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, September 1, 2008; 295(3): H1141 - H1149. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]