Hypertrophy, androgens, and tendon karyometry: functional and experimental investigations.

The aim of the present experimental study is to investigate the functional behaviour of cell nuclei in tendon tissue. For this purpose semithin sections of tendons excised from mice subjected to treadmill exercise are analysed quantitatively to establish the number of cell nuclei of tendinoblasts. The number of nuclei per volume unit of tendon tissue, nuclear size, and the behaviour of these parameters in relation to tendon calibre are determined functionally. Particular attention is given to the question--interesting both from the clinical point of view and with regard to sportsmedicine--whether the use of a synthetic androgen has any harmful effect on tendon tissue: According to the findings of the present study, a dramatic decrease in nuclear density is likely to be of pathogenetic relevance to the occurrence of collagen dysplasia.