title: Effects of a hyaluronic acid and low molecular weight heparin injection on osteoarthritis in rabbits.
abstract: An osteoarthritis (OA) model was created in the knees of rabbits by injecting them with 0.3 mL of sterile papain solution in order to evaluate the effects of a hyaluronic acid (HA) and low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) injection on osteoarthritis. HA-LMWH, LMWH, and HA were injected into animals once weekly. After 5 weeks of treatment, the animals were sacrificed and the effects of the injections on osteoarthritis were evaluated by histological assessment. HA levels in cartilage and the levels of IL-1β and TNF-α expression in synovial fluids were determined. As shown by histological observation, recovery of the synovium and cartilage of animals injected with HA-LMWH was better than that in animals injected with HA or LMWH. HA levels in cartilage of animals injected with HA-LMWH were much higher than those of the control group. The levels of IL-1β expression in synovial fluids of animals injected with HA-LMWH were lower than those in other animals. The levels of TNF-α expression in synovial fluids of animals injected with HA-LMWH were much lower than those in the controls. In conclusion, HALMWH injection had a favorable  anti-inflammatory and therapeutic effect on experimental OA.
authors.affiliation: Shandong Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ji'nan, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: P X
authors.initials: PX
authors.lastname: Ling
authors.forename: L N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Y L
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Zhang