Dose‑related histopathology and bone remodeling characteristics of the knee articular cartilage and subchondral bone induced by glucocorticoids in rats

Chen,Yan; Huang,Lian‑Fang; Zhu,Jue‑Xin

doi:10.3892/etm.2019.7508

Dose‑related histopathology and bone remodeling characteristics of the knee articular cartilage and subchondral bone induced by glucocorticoids in rats

Authors:
- Yan Chen
- Lian‑Fang Huang
- Jue‑Xin Zhu
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Affiliations: Guangdong Key Laboratory for Research and Development of Natural Drugs, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong 524023, P.R. China
Published online on: April 19, 2019 https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2019.7508
Pages: 4492-4498
Copyright: © Chen et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

The aim of the current study was to investigate histopathological changes and bone remodeling in the knee articular cartilage and subchondral bone in rats following treatment with glucocorticoids. A total of 30 3‑month‑old female Sprague‑Dawley rats were randomly divided into either a vehicle control group or one of three experimental groups wherein dexamethasone (Dex) was administered at a dose of 1.0, 2.5 or 5.0 mg/kg (Dex1.0, Dex2.5 and Dex5.0, respectively), for 8 weeks. Articular cartilage and the epiphyseal subchondral bone of the proximal tibias were evaluated by histopathology or for bone remodeling using histomorphometry. No histological changes were identified in the knee articular cartilage but the bone formation rate of the subchondral bone was lower in the Dex1.0 group compared with that of the control group. Compared with the control and the Dex1.0 group, the width of the articular cartilage and the subchondral plate were larger, with abnormal morphology and increased apoptosis of chondrocytes, decreased cell/matrix volume ratio in the cartilage and fewer blood vessels in the subchondral plate in the Dex2.5 and Dex5.0 groups. A higher Dex dose resulted in more severe inhibition of bone formation, a greater number of apoptotic osteocytes and constrained bone resorption. All microstructure parameters indicated no significant changes in the Dex2.5 group but exhibited deterioration in the Dex5.0 group compared with the normal and Dex1.0 group. There were no significant differences in morphological changes, or in static and dynamic bone indices between the Dex2.5 and Dex5.0 groups. In conclusion, long‑term glucocorticoid use induced dose‑related histopathological changes in the knee articular cartilage, along with unbalanced bone remodeling and osteopenia in the subchondral bone. The degree of damage to the articular cartilage was milder and transformed from compensation to degeneration at higher doses.

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