COMPARISON OF TWO ANIMAL MODELS WITH CARTILAGE DEFECT

Abstract

To compare difference in the establishment of animal model of cartilage defect by resection of medial collateral ligament and meniscus and by cartilage excavation so as to provide a proper way for the choose of animal model preparation of catilage defect. Ten healthy beagles, male or female, weighing 5.0-10.0 kg, were randomly divided into 3 groups. Resection of knee collateral ligament and meniscus was performed on 4 beagles of group A, cartilage excavation of knee-joints in 4 beagles of group B, and no treatment on 2 beagles of group C as controls. At 16 weeks after modeling, MRI, gross observation, HE staining, Safranin O staining, and toluidine blue staining were performed, and Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) score was recorded. MRI and histology observation showed no obvious cartilage defect in group A; obvious cartilage defects were observed in group B and gross observation showed dramatic dark red cartilage defects. OARSI score was significantly lower in group A (0.940±0.574) than group B (4.500±0.516) (t=18.461, P=0.000). The cartilage excavation is better than resection of both meniscus and medial collateral ligament, which provides a good method of establishing an animal model of cartilage defect at 16 weeks after operation.