Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2012, Vol. 16 ›› Issue (42): 7837-7842.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.2012.42.009

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Integrated Salvia miltiorrhiza and acupuncture for repairing knee articular full-thickness cartilage defects

Ma Yong1, 2, Guo Yang1, 2, Gu Yi-huang1, Zhou Xin1, Wang Jian-wei2, Zhang Ya-feng2, Huang Gui-cheng1   

  1. 1Laboratory of Integrated Acupuncture and Medicine, Ministry of Education, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210029, Jiangsu Province, China
    2Institute of Traumatology & Orthopedics, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Wuxi 214001, Jiangsu Province, China
  • Received:2012-02-01 Revised:2012-02-14 Online:2012-10-14 Published:2012-10-14
  • Contact: Huang Gui-cheng, Professor, Doctoral supervisor, Laboratory of Integrated Acupuncture and Medicine, Ministry of Education, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210029, Jiangsu Province, China zhongyi-my@263.net
  • About author:Ma Yong☆, Doctor, Professor, Doctoral supervisor, Laboratory of Integrated Acupuncture and Medicine, Ministry of Education, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210029, Jiangsu Province, China; Institute of Traumatology & Orthopedics, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Wuxi 214001, Jiangsu Province, China Zhongyi-my@263.net

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Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that subchondral drilling can repair cartilage defects effectively. Integrated acupuncture and medicine can control the symptoms of cartilage damage effectively in clinic. It is supposed that integrated acupuncture and medicine can produce synergistic effect with subchondral drilling on cartilage defect repair.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of integrated acupuncture and medicine combined with subchondral drilling on the repair of articular cartilage defects.
METHODS: Full-thickness defects of 6 mm×8 mm were created over the articular surface of bilateral femoral condyles in 50 rabbits. The rabbits were randomly divided into five groups (n=10). The rabbits in A group (model group) were not given any treatment after modeled, and those in B group (drilling group) were only given drilling treatment. One week after drilling, the rabbits in C group (Salvia miltiorrhiza group) were injected 0.3 mL Salvia miltiorrhiza injecta into both knee joint cavity once a week for five times. The rabbits in D group (acupuncture group) were acupunctured bilateral Zusanli (ST36) once a day for 30 minutes, totally for 30 times. The rabbits in E group (acupuncture+Salvia miltiorrhiza group) were injected SM and acupunctured bilateral Zusanli, and the methods were identical to the C and D groups.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The results of the histological observation and transmission electron microscope examination showed that the repair tissues in B, C, D and E groups were similar, including hyaline cartilage, immature cartilage and fibrous cartilage, while that in group A was mostly fibrous tissue in majority. The quantity and quality of repair tissue in E group was the best. Compared with the group A, the area of the repair tissue covering cartilage defects in B, C, D and E group was obviously increased (P < 0.01). The effect of E group was the optimum and that in C and D groups was worse. These findings suggest that Salvia miltiorrhiza, acupuncture, and acupuncture+Salvia miltiorrhiza all can promote subchondral drilling effect on cartilage defects repair, besides, the effect of integrated acupuncture and Salvia miltiorrhiza is superior to pure Salvia miltiorrhiza and acupuncture.

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