ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:There are few reports concerning effects of warming the yang and benefiting the marrow for the knee osteoarthritis on the expression of matrix metal oproteinase. OBJECTIVE:To observe the effect of warming the yang and benefiting the marrow on the expression of matrix metal oproteinase in rabbit models of knee osteoarthritis. METHODS:Of 96 healthy adult New Zealand rabbits, 72 rabbits were randomly selected for making rabbit models of knee osteoarthritis using plaster external fixation. After success model establishment, the rabbits were randomly assigned to three groups. Model group was left intact. Chinese medicine group received daily intragastric administration of drug extract 24 mL/kg. Drug control group was daily intragastrical y administered Puli Capsule (glucosamine hydrochloride) 24 mg/kg, once a day, until the eighth week of success model induction. An additional 24 New Zealand rabbits served as blank controls. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Using quantitative PCR, matrix metal oproteinase-1, matrix metal oproteinase-3 and matrix metal oproteinase-13 expression was significantly higher in the model group than that in the other three groups. Matrix metal oproteinase-1, matrix metal oproteinase-3 and matrix metal oproteinase-13 expression was significantly lower in the Chinese medicine group and drug control group than that in the model group. These results indicated that warming the yang and benefiting the marrow for knee osteoarthritis in rabbits could effectively inhibit the expression of matrix metal oproteinase in rabbits.