A Study of Changes in Morphology of Osteoarthritic Articular Cartilage Using Computerized Image Analysis

Neeru Goyal,Madhur Gupta

doi:10.1155/2013/981305

Neeru Goyal, Madhur Gupta

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/981305

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Abstract

Histological studies on articular cartilage have been traditionally based on individual observations but this approach is limited by its subjectivity and bias, yielding considerable variability. So the present study was conducted to observe the various changes in the morphology of osteoarthritic femoral articular cartilage using computerized image analysis. The cartilage specimens were divided into two groups: group 1 (n=23) (46–81 years) consisted of OA specimens. Group 2 (n=12) (41–86 years) consisted of non-OA specimens. A 5 μm thick paraffin sections were stained with H&E staining and analyzed using Image-Pro Express image analysis software for quantitative analysis of articular cartilage. Various parameters, namely, total thickness of the cartilage, area of lacunae in each zone, area of subchondral cavities, and number of chondrocytes per 10,000 μm2 area in each zone, were measured. Microscopic appearance of OA cartilage was much different as compared to control. Various changes seen were different in all specimens and they were not related to age. Lacunar size in all four zones was found to differ significantly in the OA (group 1) and control (group 2) (P<0.05). The results suggest that OA should be considered as a specific process and not simply as an inevitable feature of ageing.

Highlights

Articular cartilage undergoes substantial structural and molecular changes with age, including surface fibrillation, alteration of structure and composition of collagen, and decrease in strength
In a previous study, using computerized image analysis we observed the changes in the morphology of the non-OA femoral articular cartilage with age and only the lacunar size in zone 3 was found to correlate significantly with age
OA is often described as a chronic age-related degenerative disease and is considered by many as an inevitable feature of growing old

Summary

Introduction

Articular cartilage undergoes substantial structural and molecular changes with age, including surface fibrillation, alteration of structure and composition of collagen, and decrease in strength. Such changes increase the risk of synovial joint degeneration that leads to osteoarthritis (OA), which is a degenerative joint disease characterized by articular cartilage degeneration. In a previous study, using computerized image analysis we observed the changes in the morphology of the non-OA femoral articular cartilage with age and only the lacunar size in zone 3 was found to correlate significantly with age. The present study was conducted using computerized image analysis to quantitate the differences observed in OA articular cartilage

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