Drug Discov Ther. 2009;3(4):146-150.

Effects of a hyaluronic acid and low molecular weight heparin injection on osteoarthritis in rabbits.

Ling PX, Zhang LN, Jin Y, He YL, Zhang TM


SUMMARY

An osteoarthritis (OA) model was created in the knees of rabbits by injecting them with 0.3 mL of sterile papain solution in order to evaluate the effects of a hyaluronic acid (HA) and low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) injection on osteoarthritis. HA-LMWH, LMWH, and HA were injected into animals once weekly. After 5 weeks of treatment, the animals were sacrificed and the effects of the injections on osteoarthritis were evaluated by histological assessment. HA levels in cartilage and the levels of IL-1β and TNF-α expression in synovial fluids were determined. As shown by histological observation, recovery of the synovium and cartilage of animals injected with HA-LMWH was better than that in animals injected with HA or LMWH. HA levels in cartilage of animals injected with HA-LMWH were much higher than those of the control group. The levels of IL-1β expression in synovial fluids of animals injected with HA-LMWH were lower than those in other animals. The levels of TNF-α expression in synovial fluids of animals injected with HA-LMWH were much lower than those in the controls. In conclusion, HALMWH injection had a favorable anti-inflammatory and therapeutic effect on experimental OA.


KEYWORDS: Hyaluronic acid, osteoarthritis, low molecular weight heparin, IL-1β, TNF-α

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