Age Dependent Changes in Cartilage Matrix, Subchondral Bone Mass, and Estradiol Levels in Blood Serum, in Naturally Occurring Osteoarthritis in Guinea Pigs

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Jin-Yin Yan¹  Fa-Ming Tian⁴  Wen-Ya Wang³  Ying Cheng²  Hua-Fang Xu²  Hui-Ping Song²  Ying-Ze Zhang¹ 

[1] Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, China; E-Mails:;Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Hebei United University, Tangshan 063000, China; E-Mails:;Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hebei United University, Tangshan 063000, China; E-Mail:;Medical Research Center, Hebei United University, Tangshan 063000, China; E-Mail:

关键词: osteoarthritis;    cartilage;    subchondral bone;    estradiol;    electron microscope;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijms150813578

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

The Dunkin Hartley (DH) guinea pig is a widely used naturally occurring osteoarthritis model. The aim of this study was to provide detailed evidence of age-related changes in articular cartilage, subchondral bone mineral density, and estradiol levels. We studied the female Dunkin Hartley guinea pigs at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of age (eight animals in each group). Histological analysis were used to identify degenerative cartilage and electron microscopy was performed to further observe the ultrastructure. Estradiol expression levels in serum were assessed, and matrix metalloproteinase 3 and glycosaminoglycan expression in cartilage was performed by immunohistochemistry. Bone mineral density of the tibia subchondral bone was measured using dual X-ray absorptiometry. Histological analysis showed that the degeneration of articular cartilage grew more severe with increasing age starting at 3 months, coupled with the loss of normal cells and an increase in degenerated cells. Serum estradiol levels increased with age from 1 to 6 months and thereafter remained stable from 6 to 12 months. Matrix metalloproteinase 3 expression in cartilage increased with age, but no significant difference was found in glycosaminoglycan expression between 1- and 3-month old animals. The bone mineral density of the tibia subchondral bone increased with age before reaching a stable value at 9 months of age. Age-related articular cartilage degeneration occurred in Dunkin Hartley guinea pigs beginning at 3 months of age, while no directly positive or negative correlation between osteoarthritis progression and estradiol serum level or subchondral bone mineral density was discovered.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.