title: Chondroprotective effect of alendronate in a rabbit model of osteoarthritis.
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine how alendronate (ALN) alters cartilage degeneration and periarticular bone quality in a rabbit anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) model of osteoarthritis (OA). Thirty rabbits underwent an ACLT on the left knee and a sham operation on the right knee. Fifteen rabbits received weekly subcutaneous injections of ALN (0.14 mg/kg) and 15 rabbits (the control [cont] group) received saline. Animal knees were divided into four groups: cont/sham, cont/ACLT, ALN/sham, and ALN/ACLT. Histological, radiological, and immunohistochemical indices were evaluated for each group. Bone volume ratios by micro-computed tomography showed that ALN prevented periarticular bone loss. Histologically, the cont/ACLT group had significantly worse cartilage damage than the cont/sham group 12 weeks after the surgery. However, the ALN/ACLT group had mild cartilage degeneration compared with that of the ALN/sham group. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that ALN suppressed the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-13, interleukin-1β, type-X collagen, vascular endothelial growth factor, and receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand in OA cartilage. ALN had a chondroprotective effect in an experimental rabbit model of OA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 54 Kawahara-Cho, Shogoin, Sakyo-Ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan.
authors.forename: Takaaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shirai
authors.forename: Masahiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Kohei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nishitani
authors.forename: Tsuyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Satake
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kuroki
authors.forename: Yasuaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakagawa
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakamura
mesh_terms: D019386:Alendronate / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000187:drug effects*; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000187:drug effects*; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D019386:Alendronate