Contrast enhanced μCT imaging of early articular changes in a pre-clinical model of osteoarthritis. Issue 1 (January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Reece, D.S.; Thote, T.; Lin, A.S.P.; Willett, N.J.; Guldberg, R.E.
• Is Part Of: Osteoarthritis and cartilage. Volume 26:Issue 1(2018)
• Page Start: 118
• Page End: 127
• Publication Date: 2018-01
• Subjects: Osteoarthritis -- EPIC-μCT -- MMT -- Joint degeneration -- Surface roughness -- Cartilage fibrillation; Osteoarthritis -- Periodicals; Cartilage -- Periodicals; Osteoarthritis -- Periodicals; Cartilage -- Periodicals; Arthrose -- Périodiques; Articulations -- Maladies -- Périodiques; 616.7223005
• DOI: 10.1016/j.joca.2017.10.017
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1063-4584

Abstract

Summary: Objective: The objective of this study was to characterize early osteoarthritis (OA) development in cartilage and bone tissues in the rat medial meniscus transection (MMT) model using non-destructive equilibrium partitioning of an ionic contrast agent micro-computed tomography (EPIC-μCT) imaging. Cartilage fibrillation, one of the first physiological developments in OA, was quantified in the rat tibial plateau as three-dimensional (3D) cartilage surface roughness using a custom surface-rendering algorithm. Methods: Male Lewis rats underwent MMT or sham-operation in the left leg. At 1- and 3-weeks post-surgery, the animals ( n = 7–8 per group) were euthanized and the left legs were scanned using EPIC-μCT imaging to quantify cartilage and bone parameters. In addition, a custom algorithm was developed to measure the roughness of 3D surfaces. This algorithm was validated and used to quantify cartilage surface roughness changes as a function of time post-surgery. Results: MMT surgery resulted in significantly greater cartilage damage and subchondral bone sclerosis with the damage increasing in both severity and area from 1- to 3-weeks post-surgery. Analysis of rendered 3D surfaces could accurately distinguish early changes in joints developing OA, detecting significant increases of 45% and 124% in surface roughness at 1- and 3-weeks post-surgery respectively. Conclusion: Disease progression in the MMT model progresses sequentially through changes in the cartilage articular surface, extracellular matrix composition, and then osteophyte mineralization and subchondral bone sclerosis. Cartilage surface roughness is a quantitative, early indicator of degenerative joint disease in small animal OA models and can potentially be used to evaluate therapeutic strategies.