Regeneration of resected calcaneal tendon of the rabbit

Abstract

Abstract A connective tissue growth model based on the regeneration of rabbit calcaneal tendon following surgical excision is described. Tissues allowed to regenerate for various periods of time from two days to 240 days were studied histologically and compared with mature tendon. Rabbit calcaneal tendon regenerating for 14 days or longer was found to represent a rapidly grown, normal connective tissue obtainable in quantities sufficient for biochemical microanalysis and thus to provide a valuable connective tissue growth model. By allowing growth to proceed for 56 days, the model could be used to provide normal tissue morphologically approximating mature tendon.