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Sheep Model of Articular Cartilage Repair

Contusive impact to cartilage is well-studied in animals and in human tissues because of its relevance to sports injuries and other trauma. In the sheep cartilage repair model, chondral or osteochondral injury leads to osteoarthritic degenerative articular changes within three months. A standard cartilage lesion is created without introducing joint instability or major lameness, although hemarthrosis and increased synovial fluid are present int he joint for 10 to 14 days after surgery. Injury level can be adjusted to create chondral or osteochondral injury, and bone and cartilage lesions are well established at 12 weeks and progress slowly thereafter.

The advantage of this model is that single standard injury creates focal cartilage degeneration. The ability of drugs or other treatments to protect against injury or facilitate cartilage repair, can be studied using histologic and biochemical assessments.

Evaluations

1. Radiographic image analysis.
2. Biomechanical indentation testing.
3. Cartilage biomechanical creep indentation analysis.
4. Cartilage DNA content.
5. Cartilage sulfated glycosaminoglycans (DMMB assay).
6. Cartilage collagen content analysis.

For more information, contact:

Johnathan Riley
Managing Director
Phone: 416-586-3167

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Reference List

1. Hurtig M, Novack K, McPherson R, McFadden S, McGann L, Muldrew K, Schachar N. Ostechondral dowel transplantation for repair of focal defects in the knee: An outcome study using an ovine model. Vet Surg 27:5-16, 1998.

2. Torzilli PA, Grigiene R, Borrelli J Jr, Helfet DL. Effect of impact load on articular carti-lage: cell metabolism and viability, and matrix water content. J Biomech Eng 1999; 121 (5):433-41.

3. Ewers BJ, Haut RC. Polysulphated glycosaminoglycan treatments can mitigate decreases in stiffness of articular cartilage in a traumatized animal joint. J Orthop Res 2000; 18(5): 756-61.

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