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Effect of low loading and joint immobilization for spontaneous repair of osteochondral defect in the knees of weightless (tail suspension) rats

  • Original article
  • Published:
Journal of Orthopaedic Science

Abstract

Background

Mechanical stimulation has a great influence on articular cartilage regeneration. The objective of this study was to clarify the temporal sequences of spontaneous repair of weightless or immobilized joints.

Methods

An osteochondral defect was created in the femoral patellar groove of F344 rats. A tail-suspension procedure was performed to control the mechanical environment of the hindlimbs. The experimental knee joints were classified into three conditions: CONT, normal gait; LLB, low load-bearing; LLI, low load and immobilized. The repair processes up to 4 weeks were evaluated histologically.

Results

The knee defects in the CONT and LLB conditions were repaired to a smooth surface with fibrous tissue and highly developed subchondral bone. The knees in the LLI condition had the lowest reformation rate of subchondral bone, although partial regeneration of hyaline cartilage-like tissue was seen at 4 weeks after the operation. Bulges of fibrous tissue from the defects were observed in the LLI condition.

Conclusions

These results, combined with our previous report, suggest that dynamic compressive strain stimulates regeneration of the joint surface structures. They also suggest that the contact condition of the defect with surface cartilage may play a role in the hyaline cartilage repair.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. International Innovation Center, Kyoto University, Yoshida-honmachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan

    Yasuji Harada, Naohide Tomita & Masaaki Nakajima

  2. Department of Physical Therapy, Kibi International University, Takahashi, Japan

    Masaaki Nakajima

  3. Institute of Frontier Medical Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan

    Ken Ikeuchi

  4. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shinshu University, Matsumoto, Japan

    Shigeyuki Wakitani

Authors
  1. Yasuji Harada
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  2. Naohide Tomita
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  3. Masaaki Nakajima
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  4. Ken Ikeuchi
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  5. Shigeyuki Wakitani
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Harada, Y., Tomita, N., Nakajima, M. et al. Effect of low loading and joint immobilization for spontaneous repair of osteochondral defect in the knees of weightless (tail suspension) rats. J Orthop Sci 10, 508–514 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00776-005-0931-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00776-005-0931-7

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