Abstract：Objective To investigate the effects of salmon calcitonin on knee joint cartilage lesions in anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) rat models. Methods Forty-eight three-month-old male rabbits were randomly divided into three groups(n=16). Two groups of rabbits underwent anterior cruciate ligament transection（ACLT）surgery, then were subcutaneously injected salmon calcitoin(sCT) and normal saline separately. The other rabbit were untreated as control. After eight weeks, all the rabbits were killed. The sections of cartilage were stained with hematoxylin-eosin (HE), and analyzed by Mankin score system. Expression levels of MMP-13 were detected by immunohistochemistry staining. Subchondral bone of proximal tibia was measured by bone histomorphometic method. Results Based on the observation of HE staining, Mankin score and the expression of MMP-13, the articular cartilage lesions in ACLT+sCT group were less than that in ACLT+NS group(P＜0.05), but more severe than that in control group(P＜0.05). Subchondral bone histomorphometic analysis indicated that the data in trabecular number and trabecular thickness in ACLT+sCT group was higher than those in ACLT+NS group (P＜0.05), but lower than those in control group(P＜0.05); The data in trabecular separation in ACLT+sCT group was lower than that in ACLT+NS group(P＜0.05), but higher than that in control group(P＜0.05). Conclusions sCT reduces the cartilage lesions and maintains subchondral trabecular structure in ACLT rabbit models. sCT exhibits partly chondroprotection in experimental osteoarthritis.
2013, Vol. 24 
