One cause of rotator cuff tears is thought to be age-related degenerative changes occurring in the rotator cuff. Using Rat rotator cuff we determined age-related changes in mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) expression in rotator cuff degeneration to clarify the presence/absence of mitochondrial stress. The materials used were rotator cuffs (supraspinatus) of 5-, 24-, 48-, and 100-week-old Wistar Rats (five animals each). Histopathological study revealed a 4-layer structure consisting of a bone layer, calcified cartilage layer, non-calcified cartilage layer, and tendinous component), with age-related narrowing of the non-calcified cartilage layer confirmed to be present. In an immunohistochemical TFAM study positive findings of the non-calcified cartilage layer were less prominent in the 100-week-old group. In an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) study, these were more prominent in the 5-week-old to 24-week-old groups, and slightly less so in the 48-week-old group as compared to the 24-week-old one. In the 100-week-old group as compared to the 24-week-old one they were significantly less prominent (p<0.05). The non-calcified cartilage layer is a major site for the dispersion of mechanical energy, and the change in TFAM expression noted at the same site in the present study and the results of ELISA suggest that age-related changes in mitochondrial stress may be one cause of rotator cuff degeneration.
Keywords: Rotator cuff degeneration; age-related change; mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM); supraspinatus (SSP).