The effect of a muscle strengthening exercise in the articular cartilage of rats subjected to ovariectomy

• Grant number: 12/15313-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: November 01, 2012
• End date: October 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Adriana Frias Renner
• Grantee: Bruna Thais Erbereli
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Articular cartilage is a tissue that covers the surface of bones, cushions the impact of the joints, and reduces the friction between the articular surfaces. Physical activity has been indicated for the general population as a promoter of health. However, women undergoing menopause have estrogen deficiency which is chondroprotective. As physical activity influences the joint surface, it can lead to degenerative diseases, such as osteoarthritis. The aim of this study is to investigate the response of a model of muscle strength in the hip joint cartilage of rats with estrogen deficiency. Materials and Methods: 40 Sprague Dawley rats from the Central Animal Facility of Universidade Federal of São Carlos (UFSCar). The animals are randomly distributed in four experimental groups: sham - pseudoovariectomized - non trained (NT-S), sham trained (ST); nontrained ovariectomized (OVX-NT), and strength training ovariectomized (OVX-T). The animals in group S will undergo pseudoovarectomia and the OVX groups undergo ovariectomy. The training group (T) will hold resistance training for 10 weeks of progressive training loads for each training session. At the end of the experiment, the animals will be euthanized and their left femurs will be collected, fixed, decalcified, and embedded in paraffin. Will be conducted semi-serial sections of 6 microns in a microtome and mounted on slides treated with poly-L-lysine. After this procedure, the slides will be stained with H & E and analyzed. Parameters such as the thickness of the articular cartilage, subchondral bone area, and the number of chondrocytes will be evaluated.(AU)