| Objective Osteoarthritis of the knee is a global degenerative disorder with a prevalence of up to 4%,and is more prevalent among middle-aged and elderly individuals.It significantly disrupts the personal life and daily functioning of patients,placing a burden on families and society.Therefore,it is essential to implement effective and safe interventions for patients with milder conditions or those with contraindications to surgery.The objective of this study is to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of electro-acupuncture therapy in an animal model of knee osteoarthritis and its underlying mechanism,with the aim of providing a theoretical foundation for clinical rehabilitation treatment.Methods Eighteen healthy New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into three groups: Group A(blank control group),Group B(model control group),and Group C(electro-acupuncture group),each containing six rabbits.The control group was maintained as normal,while the model control and electroacupuncture groups were fixed for 6 weeks using a modified Videman left hind limb extension and braking method to create the KOA model.One week after the modeling was completed,the electro-acupuncture group was treated with electro-acupuncture intervention at the inner knee eye,outer knee eye,Liangqiu,and Blood Sea points for four weeks,five times a week for 20 minutes each session.The Lequesne score of the rabbit left knee joint was evaluated using the Lequesne MG knee joint level assessment method;the levels of interleukin 1β and interleukin 6 in serum and joint fluid were measured by ELISA;the levels of nitric oxide(NO)in serum and joint fluid were measured by Griess method;the histomorphological changes of knee joint cartilage were observed by HE staining;and the Mankin score was used to evaluate the extent of cartilage degeneration.Results All 18 experimental animals were included in the analysis of results.Compared with the blank control group,the Lequesne MG score was significantly higher in the model control group(P < 0.05);serum and joint fluid levels of interleukin 1β,interleukin 6 and NO were elevated(P < 0.05).The levels of interleukin 1β,interleukin6 and NO in serum and joint fluid were increased(P < 0.05);the cartilage surface was not smooth,the cells were disordered and arranged in clusters,the tide line was not recognizable,the Mankin score was increased(P < 0.05);the immunofluorescence staining positive cells were increased(P < 0.05).Compared with the model control group,the Lequesne MG score was reduced in the electroacupuncture group(P < 0.05);the levels of interleukin 1β,interleukin 6 and NO in serum and joint fluid were reduced(P < 0.05);the cartilage surface was smoother,the cells were approximately normal in size and arrangement,the tide lines were discernible and the Mankin score was reduced(P < 0.05);and the immunofluorescence staining positive cells were reduced(P <0.05).Conclusion 1)The electroacupuncture method has been demonstrated to improve the function of the knee joint in rabbit knee osteoarthritis(KOA)and has been demonstrated to have a therapeutic effect on KOA.2)The electroacupuncture method has been demonstrated to effectively reduce the expression levels of inflammatory factors in serum and joint fluid of a rabbit knee arthritis model,thereby attenuating the inflammatory response.3)Electroacupuncture intervention treatment has been demonstrated to significantly improve the Mankin score of rabbit KOA articular cartilage,providing a protective effect on the cartilage.4)The mechanism of electroacupuncture in the treatment of KOA may involve reducing the expression level of inflammatory factors,targeting the expression of MAPK signaling pathways,and effectively regulating downstream related genes,thereby delaying the pathogenesis of KOA. |
