GENDER AND NEUROGENIC VARIABLES IN TENDON BIOLOGY AND REPETITIVE MOTION DISORDERS

The incidence of repetitive motion disorders is increasing. Numerous s tudies have indicated that the incidence in females exceeds that in ma les. Some of the evidence regarding gender related factors in tendon b iology is discussed and new data related to the regulation of gene exp ression in an animal model of tendon overuse, the determination of sex hormone receptors in tendons, and the influence of pregnancy associat ed factors on gene expression in four different tendons is provided. F urthermore, because neurogenic mechanisms may contribute to inflammato ry conditions, new evidence is provided that supports the concept that neurotransmitters can influence expression of genes that could partic ipate in such inflammation. By increasing our understanding of the reg ulation of tendon cellular and molecular biology, new approaches to pr eventing disease development and treatment of existing disease may evo lve.