The assessment of bee venom responses in an experimental model of mono-arthritis using Tc-99m DPD bone scintigraphy.
OBJECTIVE
Several recent studies have shown that bee venom (BV) has an anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory effect on arthritis. However, objective methods for evaluation of the therapeutic effect of BV is insufficient in animal studies and clinical trials. Our purpose was to determine the usefulness of bone scintigraphy using Tc-99m DPD (3,3-diphosphono-1,2-propan-dicarbonacid) about effects of BV applied to carrageenan-induced mono-arthritis (CIA) model.


METHODS
Mono-arthritis was induced by an intra-articular injection of carrageenan in Sprague-Dawley rats. Administration of BV (0.8 mg/kg) was performed at 30 min before and at 4 h after the induction of mono-arthritis. We assigned rats to BV-before, BV-after, control-before and control-after groups and compared the results of each group by the weight-loading test and bone scintigraphy. The rats received an intravenous injection of 37 MBq of Tc-99m DPD by the tail vein and then scanning was performed at 4 and 24 h after the injection. Visual assessment and quantitative analysis were performed for both knees.


RESULTS
The BV-before and BV-after groups were more improved than the control groups on the weight load test (p < 0.05). Bone scintigraphy showed lower activity in the BV-before group than in the control-before group (p < 0.05) on the 4 h imaging. However, a significant difference in the BV-before and BV-after groups was not observed on the 24 h imaging.


CONCLUSIONS
BV had therapeutic effects by anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory activity in the CIA and bone scintigraphy performed on 4 h imaging provided visual and quantitative information for the assessment of the therapeutic response to BV as an objective method in mono-arthritis model.
Yang
Chung-Yong
CY
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, College of Medicine, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Republic of Korea.
Park
Soon-Ah
SA
Oh
Kyung-Jae
KJ
Yang
Yun Sik
YS
D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000818:Animals; D001168:Arthritis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001514:Bee Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002351:Carrageenan / Q000009:adverse effects; D004164:Diphosphonates; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D001514:Bee Venoms; D004164:Diphosphonates; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; C033905:technetium Tc 99m 1,1-diphosphonopropane-2,3-dicarboxylic acid; D002351:Carrageenan