The suprapatellar fat pad: A histotopographic comparative study

• DOI: 10.1111/joa.13984
• Publication Date: 2023-11-30T01:21:47Z
• Authors: Elena Stocco; Martina Contran; Chiara Giulia Fon...; Lucia Petrelli; Ilaria Toniolo; Aron Emmi; Filippo Romanato; Andrea Porzionato; Raffaele De Caro; Veronica Macchi
• Keywords: Infrapatellar fat pad; Fat pad

Abstract The suprapatellar fat pad is an adipose tissue located in the anterior knee whose role osteoarthritis still debated. Considering that anatomy drives function, aim of this histotopographic study was to investigate specific morphological features versus infrapatellar absence osteoarthritis, for a broad comparative analysis. Suprapatellar and samples ( n = 10/group) underwent microscopical/immunohistochemical staining transmission electron microscopy analysis; thus, tissue‐specific characteristics (i.e., vessels nerve endings presence, lobuli, adipocytes features, septa), including extracellular matrix proteins prevalence (collagens, elastic fibers), were focused. Multiphoton also adopted evaluate collagen fiber orientation within by Fast Fourier Transform (coherency calculation). inflammation confirmed, comparable counted shown. Like pad, appeared as white with lobuli septa diameter thickness, respectively. Tissue main proved both semithin sections roundish smaller area, perimeter, major axis than pad. fibers surrounding them showed no significant difference type I significantly higher values III group. Regarding septa, content statistically between two groups, even though more represented Total comparing they similarly whole cohort despite appearing be vice versa III. Second harmonic generation confirmed through coherency calculation anisotropic distribution fibers. From mechanical point view, different determined stiffness respect This provides, first time, topographic description compared pad; differences groups may attributed anatomical location knee; results gathered here useful complete interpretation disease, involving not only cartilage but joint.