title: Effect of high molecular weight hyaluronan on cartilage degeneration in a rabbit model of osteoarthritis.
abstract: The effects of high molecular weight hyaluronan (HA) on cartilage degeneration were investigated in a partial menisectomy model of osteoarthritis (OA) in the rabbit knee. This study compared HA80 (0.8 x 10(6) Da, 1%), HA190 (1.9 x 10(6) Da, 0.01-1%) and saline. HA (0.1 ml/kg) or saline were injected intra-articularly twice a week immediately after surgery. Degenerative changes in femoral and tibial cartilages were graded histopathologically 2 and 4 weeks after surgery. Two weeks after surgery, HA190, only when used at a 1% concentration, resulted in a dramatic inhibition of cartilage degeneration in both the femoral condyle and the tibial plateau (P < 0.01). Two weeks after surgery, the protection against cartilage degeneration was significantly (P < 0.05) greater with HA190 than with HA80. Four weeks after surgery, only the femoral cartilage degeneration was significantly and similarly inhibited with HA190 (P < 0.01) and HA80 (P < 0.05). Scanning electron micrographs of femoral cartilage showed that cartilage degeneration was less severe with HA190 than with saline. These results might suggest that, in the rabbit model, intra-articular administration of higher molecular weight HA is more effective than lower molecular weight HA in inhibiting cartilage degeneration in early OA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, National Defense Medical College, Saitama, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kikuchi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shimmei
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology*; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007270:Injections, Intra-Articular; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000473:pathology*; D011817:Rabbits; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D012965:Sodium Chloride; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid