Osteoarthrosis of the ankle joints in old rats
Mohr, W.; Lehmann, H.
Zeitschrift für Rheumatologie 51(1): 35-40
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0340-1855 PMID: 1574936 Document Number: 390500
The paper describes results of histological investigations on 26-month-old rats with osteoarthrosis of the ankle joints. From the morphological appearance a sequence of alterations from focal chondrocytic necroses, fibrillation to partial or total cartilage loss occurred. The reported changes were often present in opposing cartilage contact zones. A synovitis seems not to be involved in this cartilage destructive process. It is assumed that this spontaneously occurring osteoarthrosis can be used as a model to study the mechanisms leading to cartilage destruction. The model may further be useful to elucidate protective or detrimental effects of therapeutic substances.