Abstract
BackgroundMany researches have investigated the changes associated with immobilization-induced osteoarthritis (OA). However, there are only few studies focusing on the effect of unilateral knee immobilization on cartilage matrix changes in the contralateral mobile knee. The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of immobilization on the cartilage matrix in the contralateral mobile knees in a rabbit model of OA induced by immobilization.MethodsRight knees (experimental knees) of eighteen mature female rabbits were immobilized at an extension of 180° with orthopedic casting tape for 2, 4, or 8 weeks. Left knees (contralateral knees) of the immobilized rabbits were not subjected to immobilization. The knees of six non-immobilized rabbits were designated as control knees. Following immobilization, cartilage specimens from the medial femoral condyle underwent macroscopic, histological, immunohistochemical, and biochemical evaluations.ResultsRoughness of cartilage surface was detected in the experimental knees at 2 weeks, and cartilage degeneration was further developed. In the contralateral knee, cartilage showed degenerative changes after 4 weeks. Safranin-O staining and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) contents were reduced in the experimental knees following immobilization and in the contralateral intact knees after 4 and 8 weeks. Type II collagen staining was gradually reduced, type I collagen accumulation was obviously detected in the upper and middle layers of cartilage in experimental knees after 8 weeks, and the collagen orientation was gradually disorganized in both knees at 4 and 8 weeks. For both experimental and contralateral knees, collagen contents were significantly decreased at 8 weeks, and Mankin and Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) scores increased over time.ConclusionOA developed in the contralateral intact knee with the progress of OA in the immobilized knee in a rabbit model of immobilization-induced OA.
Highlights
Many researches have investigated the changes associated with immobilization-induced osteoarthritis (OA)
Cartilage defects were detected after 4 weeks of immobilization (Fig. 1b), and defects were further developed after 8 weeks of immobilization (Fig. 1c)
Safranin-O/ Fast-Green (SO) staining was slightly reduced in the superficial cartilage layer in the experimental knees (Fig. 2a)
Summary
Many researches have investigated the changes associated with immobilization-induced osteoarthritis (OA). There are only few studies focusing on the effect of unilateral knee immobilization on cartilage matrix changes in the contralateral mobile knee. The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of immobilization on the cartilage matrix in the contralateral mobile knees in a rabbit model of OA induced by immobilization. The mechanical properties of cartilage in both immobilized and contralateral knee joints have been reported to be affected after 4-week immobilization in a canine model [12]. It is of great significance to detect the cartilage matrix changes in the contralateral intact knee following immobilization. There are currently only few studies focusing on the effect of unilateral knee immobilization on cartilage matrix changes in the contralateral intact knee [13, 14]
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