title: Dynamic Alterations in Microarchitecture, Mineralization and Mechanical Property of Subchondral Bone in Rat Medial Meniscal Tear Model of Osteoarthritis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The properties of subchondral bone influence the integrity of articular cartilage in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA). However, the characteristics of subchondral bone alterations remain unresolved. The present study aimed to observe the dynamic alterations in the microarchitecture, mineralization, and mechanical properties of subchondral bone during the progression of OA.
  
  
  METHODS
  A medial meniscal tear (MMT) operation was performed in 128 adult Sprague Dawley rats to induce OA. At 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks following the MMT operation, cartilage degeneration was evaluated using toluidine blue O staining, whereas changes in the microarchitecture indices and tissue mineral density (TMD), mineral-to-collagen ratio, and intrinsic mechanical properties of subchondral bone plates (BPs) and trabecular bones (Tbs) were measured using micro-computed tomography scanning, confocal Raman microspectroscopy and nanoindentation testing, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cartilage degeneration occurred and worsened progressively from 2 to 12 weeks after OA induction. Microarchitecture analysis revealed that the subchondral bone shifted from bone resorption early (reduced trabecular BV/TV, trabecular number, connectivity density and trabecular thickness [Tb.Th], and increased trabecular spacing (Tb.Sp) at 2 and 4 weeks) to bone accretion late (increased BV/TV, Tb.Th and thickness of subchondral bone plate, and reduced Tb.Sp at 8 and 12 weeks). The TMD of both the BP and Tb displayed no significant changes at 2 and 4 weeks but decreased at 8 and 12 weeks. The mineral-to-collagen ratio showed a significant decrease from 4 weeks for the Tb and from 8 weeks for the BP after OA induction. Both the elastic modulus and hardness of the Tb showed a significant decrease from 4 weeks after OA induction. The BP showed a significant decrease in its elastic modulus from 8 weeks and its hardness from 4 weeks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The microarchitecture, mineralization and mechanical properties of subchondral bone changed in a time-dependent manner as OA progressed.
authors.forename: De-Gang
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Shao-Bo
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Nie
authors.forename: Feng-Xiang
authors.initials: FX
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Chuan-Long
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Wen-Gang
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xiao-Qing
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zhen-An
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orthopedic Implants, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, China.
authors.forename: Yuan-Qing
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Mao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D055114:X-Ray Microtomography
chemical_list: D003094:Collagen