Thirty days after anterior cruciate ligament transection is sufficient to induce signs of knee osteoarthritis in rats: pain, functional impairment, and synovial inflammation

Author(s)

Barbosa, Germanna M. ^[1] ; Cunha, Jonathan E. ^[1] ; Russo, Thiago L. ^[1] ; Cunha, Thiago M. ^[2] ; Castro, Paula A. T. S. ^[1] ; Oliveira, Francisco F. B. ^[2] ; Cunha, Fernando Q. ^[2] ; Ramalho, Fernando S. ^[3] ; Salvini, Tania F. ^{[1, 4]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed Sao Carlos, Dept Phys Therapy, Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Pharmacol, Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Pathol, Forens Med, Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

^[4] Universidade Fed Sao Carlos, Departamento Fisioterapia, Laboratorio Plasticidade Muscular, Rodovia Washington Luiz, Km 235, BR-13565-905 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Inflammation Research; v. 69, n. 3, p. 279-288, MAR 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Objective To compare the unilateral signs of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) 30 and 60 days after anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT). Pain, gait function, synovial fluid inflammation, and histopathological changes in the synovial membrane were analyzed, as well as the interaction between the variables. Materials and methods Male Wistar rats (n = 32; 219.2 +/- 18.6 g) were randomly distributed into four groups of eight animals each. Two groups were submitted to unilateral ACLT surgery to induce KOA and analyzed after 30 (KOA30) and 60 days (KOA60). Two control groups (without surgery) were also assessed after the same time periods (C30 and C60). All the groups were evaluated before ACLT from the least to most stressful tests (skin temperature, mechanical response threshold, gait test, thermal response threshold, and joint swelling), as well as 30 and 60 days after surgery. After euthanasia, the synovial fluid and synovial membrane were collected. Results Thirty days after ACLT, KOA30 showed decrease paw print area and mechanical response threshold, higher joint swelling, skin temperature, leukocyte count, cytokine levels, and synovitis score. No differences were found between KOA30 and KOA60. Conclusion Our data showed that 30 days after ACLT is sufficient to induce signs of KOA in rats, such as pain, functional impairment, and synovial inflammation, suggesting that a shorter time period can be used as an experimental model. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/26567-2 - THE EFFECT OF CRYOTHERAPY IN THE NOCICEPTION, INFLAMMATORY CYTOKINES AND NEUROMUSCULAR SIGNALING PATHWAYS OF MICE WITH KNEE ARTHRITIS
• Grantee: Paula Aiello Tomé de Souza Castro
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 16/24666-6 - Morphological and neuromuscular junction signaling pathways changes in rats with knee osteoarthritis induced by anterior cruciate ligament transection
• Grantee: Jonathan Emanuel da Cunha
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master