Effect of Low-level Laser Therapy on Osteoarthropathy in Rabbit

• Published in: In vivo (Athens) Vol. 18; no. 5; p. 585
• Main Authors: Cho, Hyung-Jin, Lim, Sung-Chul, Kim, Su-Gwan, Kim, Young-Soo, Kang, Seong-Soo, Choi, Seok-Hwa, Cho, Yong-Seong, Bae, Chun-Sik
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Greece International Institute of Anticancer Research 01.09.2004
• Subjects: Animals; Arthrography; Cartilage, Articular - enzymology; Cartilage, Articular - pathology; Cartilage, Articular - physiology; Cartilage, Articular - radiation effects; Disease Models, Animal; Hindlimb; Low-Level Light Therapy; Osteoarthritis - chemically induced; Osteoarthritis - pathology; Osteoarthritis - radiotherapy; Rabbits; Regeneration; Stifle - drug effects; Stifle - pathology; Stifle - radiation effects; Superoxide Dismutase - metabolism; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0258-851X; 1791-7549

The aim of this study was to determine whether low-level laser therapy (LLLT) aided the recovery of damaged articular cartilage in joints with artificially induced osteoarthropathy (OA). OA was induced by injecting hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) into the articular spaces of both knees in rabbits, twice a week for 4 weeks. The induction of OA and the effect of LLLT were evaluated by biochemical, radiological and histopathological analysis. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity increased about 40% in the OA group, as compared to the controls. Although SOD activity in the OA group was not significantly different from the 2-week groups, it was significantly different from the 4-week control and treatment groups. There was also a significant difference between the 4-week control and treatment groups. Simple radiographs and three-dimensional computed tomographs (3D CT) did not show detectable arthropathy in the OA group, nor any paricular changes in the 2-week groups. In contrast, distinct erosions were seen in the distal articular cartilage of the femur, with irregularity of the articular surface, in the 4-week control group, while the erosions were reduced and arthropathy improved slightly in the 4-week treatment group. Grossly, erosions formed on the articular surface in the OA group. In comparison, severe erosions damaged the articular cartilage in the 4-week control group, but not in the 2-week control and treatment groups. Regeneration of articular cartilage was seen in gross observations in the 4-week treatment group. Histopathologically, there was slight irregularity of the articular surface and necrosis in the OA group, and serious cartilage damage, despite slight chondrocyte regeneration, in the 4-week control group. Conversely, the 4-week treatment group showed chondrocyte replacement, with sometimes close to normal articular cartilage on the articular surface. These results suggest that LLLT was effective in the treatment of chemically-induced OA.