STUDIES OF OSTEOPHYTE PATHOGENESIS IN EXPERIMENTALLY INDUCED OSTEOARTHRITIS

  • 1 April 1987
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 14  (2) , 311-320
Abstract
Osteophyte formation in partial meniscectomy model of osteoarthritis (OA) in rabbits was studied. Serial sacrifices were performed at 1 day, 3 days, and 1, 4, 6, 8, 12 weeks in partial meniscectomy (15), nonoperated (4) and sham-operated (7) animals. H and E, safranin-O/fast green and toluidine blue strains were performed on coronal sections and pathologic findings correlated with 3H-thymidine autoradiography. Sham-operated and nonoperated control animals (similar findings) revealed grade 1 synovial/periosteal proliferation. Sixty percent of control animals exhibited small nubbin-like spurs at the medial tibial plateau. In partial menescectomy animals, osteophytes occurred as early as 1 week, and in 7/9 (78%) animals after 4 weeks. Grade 2-4 synovial, perichondrial/periosteal thickening, cell proliferation and vascularity were seen. Soft tissue and bone responded in parallel. Results demonstrated normally high cellular activity at the joint periphery; vascular responses did not precede osteophyte formation.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: