Electroacupuncture alleviates cartilage degradation: Improvement in cartilage biomechanics via pain relief and potentiation of muscle function in a rabbit model of knee osteoarthritis

Publication date: March 2020Source: Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, Volume 123Author(s): Xiaowei Shi, Wenjing Yu, Tong Wang, Oyunerdene Battulga, Chunjiu Wang, Qi Shu, Xue Yang, Changxin Liu, Changqing GuoAbstractKnee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a chronic degenerative joint disorder characterized by loss of articular cartilage and progressive deterioration, leading to pain and functional limitation. Abnormal biomechanics play a core role in the onset and development of KOA. The aim of this study was to explore whether electroacupuncture (EA) may relieve pain and adjust the biomechanical properties of the extensor–flexor muscles to improve abnormal joint loading, thus alleviating the degradation of cartilage in a rabbit model of KOA. Firstly, a KOA model was induced by immobilization for 6 weeks. Then, different interventions (EA and celecoxib) were applied for 4 weeks. The levels of pain and disability were assessed using the Lequesne MG index. Muscle function, including function of the rectus femoris and biceps femoris, was tested through hematoxylin-eosin staining (HE staining) and use of a microforce tension-torsion instrument. The cartilage was tested using nanoindentation, Safranin O-Fast Green staining, confocal laser scanning microscopy (immunofluorescence), immunohistochemistry and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Finally, we found that EA and celecoxib resulted in lower behavioral and pain scores than the model group. In addition, it improved the function ...
Source: Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research