The chondroprotective effect of intra-articular hyaluronic acid at early stages of osteoarthritis: An experimental study in rabbits
Abstract
Methods: Osteoarthritis was induced in both knees of 10 rabbits by transecting the anterior cruciate ligament under intramuscular anesthesia with ketamine and xylazine. Intra-articular HA at a dose of 0.6 ml (15 mg/ml) and physiologic saline solution (0.6 ml) were injected into the right and left knees, respectively, three times with a week interval. Three rabbits died during the study period and were excluded. The remaining rabbits were sacrificed in the 12th week via high dose anesthesia to remove the the distal femora for histological evaluation using the Mankin scale and for measurements of the cartilage area.
Results: The mean cartilage areas calculated in HA- and saline-injected knees differed significantly (1.097 mm2 and 0.477 mm2, respectively; p<0.05). The overall mean Mankin score was significantly lower in HA-injected knees (3.57 versus 11.14; p<0.05). Although, there were no significant differences between the two groups with respect to cellular abnormality, matrix staining, and tidemark continuity (p>0.05), the mean scores for the structure of the cartilage were significantly different (0.86 versus 4.43; p<0.05). The integrity of the tidemark was preserved in all the HA-administered knees, though a notable disruption was observed in four control knees.
Conclusion: Our results suggest that HA delays the development of osteoarthritis at early stages through exerting a chondroprotective effect.
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Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Health Care Administration
Journal Section
Research Article
Authors
Cengiz Sen
This is me
Taner Gunes
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Baransel Saygi
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Mehmet Erdem
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Resit Koseoglu
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Nurten Kilic
This is me
Publication Date
September 11, 2006
Submission Date
March 7, 2014
Acceptance Date
-
Published in Issue
Year 2004 Volume: 38 Number: 5