Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Previous studies demonstrated that, low-frequency pulsed ultrasound can promote repair of full-thickness articular cartilage defects, delay the progression of knee osteoarthritis. Aquaporin 3 exists on articular cartilage and synovial membrane, which plays an important role in osteoarthritis.
OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of low-frequency pulsed ultrasound on the expression of articular cartilage and synovial aquaporin 3 in rabbits with knee osteoarthritis.
METHODS: Experimental osteoarthritis was replicated in knees of mature New Zealand rabbits by fixing their left back knees straightenedly in plaster cast. The experimental animals received IFPUS therapy, of which the intensity was 2.0 W, and the frequency was 1 MHz. The IFPUS therapy was administered once a day and lasted for 15 minutes every time. For the control group, sham US therapy was administered. The immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of articular cartilage and synovial aquaporin 3 at 2, 4 and 8 weeks after therapy.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: With the modeling time prolonged, the expression of articular cartilage and synovial aquaporin 3 in each group were increased. Compared with the control group, the expression of articular cartilage and synovial aquaporin 3 was lower in the experimental group (P < 0.01). It is suggested that the low-frequency pulsed ultrasound might reduce the expression of aquaporin 3 in articular cartilage and synovial at protein leve1, relieve joint swelling, reduce the severity of articular cartilage and synovium degeneration, and have a protective effect on cartilage and synovial membrane.