J Korean Med Sci.  2010 May;25(5):776-780. 10.3346/jkms.2010.25.5.776.

Additive Effects of Intra-articular Injection of Growth Hormone and Hyaluronic Acid in Rabbit Model of Collagenase-induced Osteoarthritis

• Kim SB
• Kwon DR
• Kwak H
• Shin YB
• Han HJ
• Lee JH
• Choi SH

• KMID: 1713965
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2010.25.5.776

Abstract

In a rabbit model of collagenase-induced osteoarthritis, the additive effects of intra-articular recombinant human growth hormone (GH) administration to hyaluronic acid (HA) were evaluated. After intra-articular collagenase injection, mature New Zealand white rabbits (n=30) were divided into 3 groups. Group 1 (control rabbits) received once weekly intra-articular saline injections for 4 weeks. Group 2 rabbits received 6 mg HA injections, and group 3 rabbits were injected with 6 mg HA and 3 mg recombinant human GH. These injections were initiated 4 weeks after collagenase injections. Lameness was observed for 9 weeks after collagenase injections. Macroscopic and histopathological knee joint findings were also evaluated at the end of 9 weeks after collagenase injections. Although all animals had lameness after collagenase injections, the duration and severity of lameness were significantly shorter and less severe in group 3 than group 1 and 2 (P<0.01). Macroscopic scores showed that femoral condyles of group 3 rabbits received significantly less cartilage damage than those of groups 1 and 2 rabbits (P<0.01). Histopathological score was also the lowest in group 3 (P<0.01). These results suggest that co-injection of intra-articular HA and recombinant human GH is more effective than HA injections alone in an osteoarthritis model.

Keyword

Osteoarthritis; Hyaluronic Acid; Growth Hormone; Collagenases

MeSH Terms

Animals
*Collagenases
*Disease Models, Animal
Drug Combinations
Drug Synergism
Human Growth Hormone/*administration & dosage
Humans
Hyaluronic Acid/*administration & dosage
Injections, Intra-Articular
Male
Osteoarthritis/*chemically induced/diagnosis/*drug therapy
Rabbits
Treatment Outcome
Drug Combinations
Human Growth Hormone
Hyaluronic Acid
Collagenases

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 (A) Gross findings of the femoral condyles in Group 1 (G1), Group 2 (G2) and Group 3 (G3) rabbits. (B) histopathologic findings of axial sections obtained at the rectangular areas shown in column A photographs (H&E staining, ×40). The loss of cartilage is seen on the femoral condyles (black arrows).

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