Abstract
Background
Excessive chronic loading is thought to be one factor responsible for the onset of
osteoarthritis. For example, studies using treadmill running have shown an increased
risk for osteoarthritis, thereby suggesting that muscle-induced joint loading may
play a role in osteoarthritis onset and progression. However, in these studies, muscle-induced
loading was not carefully quantified. Here, we present a model of controlled muscular
loading which allows for the accurate quantification of joint loading. The aim of
this study was to evaluate the effects of long-term, cyclic, isometric and dynamic,
muscle-induced joint loading of physiologic magnitude but excessive intensity on cartilage
integrity and cell viability in the rabbit knee.
Methods
24 rabbits were divided into an (i) eccentric, (ii) concentric, or (iii) isometric
knee extensor contraction group (50 min of cyclic, submaximal stimulation 3 times/week
for four weeks = 19,500 cycles) controlled by the stimulation of a femoral nerve cuff electrode on
the right hind limb. The contralateral knee was used as a non-loaded control. The
knee articular cartilages were analysed by confocal microscopy for chondrocyte death,
and histologically for Mankin Score, cartilage thickness and cell density.
Findings
All loaded knees had significantly increased cell death rates and Mankin Scores compared
to the non-loaded joints. Cartilage thicknesses did not systematically differ between
loaded and control joints.
Interpretation
Chondrocyte death and Mankin Scores were significantly increased in the loaded joints,
thereby linking muscular exercise of physiologic magnitude but excessive intensity
to cartilage degeneration and cell death in the rabbit knee.
Keywords
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Article Info
Publication History
Published online: May 23, 2013
Accepted:
April 23,
2013
Received:
October 3,
2012
Identification
Copyright
© 2013 Elsevier Ltd. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
