Abstract
The aim of this project was to test the possible osteo-inductive properties of a microsphere-based slow release combination treatment, containing testosterone and alendronate, which is injected intra-articular in a mono-iodoacetate (MIA)-induced OA model. Specifically, we aimed to demonstrate a dose dependent increase in bone formation in the subchondral bone of the tibia (measured by microCT) and a subsequent reduction in joint pain (measured by Incapacitance tester).
Before OA induction, all 60 rats were subjected to 3 baseline measurements with the Incapacitance tester, the knee joint was scanned with the microCT and blood was drawn. Following these baseline measurements, all rats received an intra-articular injection of MIA to induce OA (t=0). At t=3 days PLGA microspheres containing different amounts of testosterone (5, 15, 50 and 120 ug of testosterone) and a fixed amount of alendronate (7 ug) were injected in the OA joint, control animal received vehicle only (n=12). The effect of the MIA and microsphere injection on joint pain were monitored at t=3, 7, 14, 16, 22, 28 and 36 days with the Incapacitance tester (IT). The effect on bone formation was assessed by microCT at t=21 and 42 day (3 and 6 weeks). And in case effects on bone formation was observed, blood was drawn at t=42 days to measure bone specific biomarkers. At day 42 all animals were euthanized, and joints processed for further histological analysis.
This dataset includes an experiment description and files containing (1) pain measurement using IT and (2) bone measurement using micoCT.
