Effect Of Aconitum Injection On Expression Of MMP-13 In Knee Joint Osteoarthritis Of Rabbits

OBJECTIVE: To establish an animal model of rabbit knee osteoarthritis(KOA).To observe the changes of morphology and microstructure of articular cartilage in the KOA model of rabbits and the expression of matrix metalloproteinases(MMPs)in cartilage tissues To analyze the effect of Aconitum injection on KOA degeneration cartilage,to provide a reliable basis for the application of the drug and its scope of treatment,and to lay the foundation for further clinical application.METHODS: Twenty healthy adult white rabbits were randomly divided into four groups: group A: blank control group;group B: model control group;group C: test group;group D: Positive drug control group.After one week of adaptive feeding,rabbits with KOA were established in group B,C and D except for group A.After the establishment of animal model,C group was injected with aconitum injection 0.2ml / kg in rabbits with double posterior knee joint;group D was injected with sodium hyaluronate injection in rabbits with double posterior knee joint injection of 0.2ml / kg;Group to the same amount of sterile saline 0.2ml / kg injection.(1)the general state;(2)the general observation;(3)observed under light microscope;(4)by using the kit to observe the secretion of MMP-13,expression.RESULTS:(1)There was no significant change in the mental state,body color,limb activity,diet and food intake,joint condition of group A,group B,group C and group D were similar in group A.(2)The general appearance of articular cartilage: A group of normal;B group of the most serious injury;C,D group of articular cartilage degeneration but close to the A group.(3)Observation of articular cartilage under light microscope: The structure of group A was normal;group B changed greatly.C and D group,although the changes in cartilage morphology,but with the A group of cartilage structure closer.Mankin's score: Group A score was the lowest,group B score the highest,C,D group after treatment score was significantly reduced.The scores of group A were significantly different from those ofgroup B(P <0.01).The scores of group B were significantly different from those of group C and D(P<0.01).There was significant difference between group C and group D(P<0.01).(4)The expression of MMP-13 in articular chondrocytes: The expression of MMP-13 was the lowest in group A,the highest in group B and the group of C and D between the two groups.The expression of MMP-13 in group A was significantly higher than that in group B(P<0.01).The expression of MMP-13 in group B was significantly higher than that in group C and D(P <0.01).The expression of MMP-13 in the two groups was significantly higher than that in the control group(P<0.01).CONCLUSION: Aconitum injection can inhibit the expression of MMP-13 in articular cartilage,effectively prevent the degradation of matrix collagen,slow down the process of osteoarthritis,protect articular cartilage and inhibit the destruction of articular cartilage.