EFFECT OF ORAL GLUCOSAMINE ON CARTILAGE DEGRADATION IN A RABBIT MODEL OF OSTEOARTHRITIS

Background: It is not clear whether oral glucosamine administration has a structure-modifying effect in osteoarthritis, and an animal model may offer an important opportunity to resolve this issue.

Research question/s: Does oral glucosamine administration reduce cartilage degradation in an animal model of osteoarthritis?

Methodology:Experimental procedure: Thirty-two rabbits underwent anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) to induce osteoarthritis of the knee joint. The rabbits were randomised to either 8 weeks of daily oral glucosamine hydrochloride glucosamine (GLUC = 16) or a placebo (CON = 16) and were then necropsied at 11 weeks. Seven unoperated rabbits served as controls.

Measures of outcome: Macroscopic analysis of cartilage (grades 1–4); histological analysis (proteoglycan loss (Safranin O-fast green staining)), chondrocyte loss (grades 0–4), structure (grades 0–8), clone formation (grades 0–3, tidemark integrity, total type II collagen and glycosaminoglycan (GAG)).

Main finding/s:

• Histological analysis: proteoglycan loss was significantly less in the lateral tibial plateau cartilage of ACL-transected limbs in the GLUC group compared with AC-transected limbs in the CON group, with a similar trend for the lateral femoral condylar cartilage. Histological scores were similar in both groups

• Glycosaminoglycan content: this was reduced in the femoral condyles of CON ACL-transected joints, but not in the same region of the GLUC group, compared to the respective contralateral unoperated joints …