ABSTRACT
[Objective]To study the effect of sixpetal clematis root injection(WLX)on histology,collagen phenotype and ultramicrostructurc in cartilage of osteoarthritis animal model.[Method]OA model animals were randomly divided into 3 groups:group S,group D and group K.Animals in group S received WLX and animals in group D received sterilized normal saline intramuscularly,group K was control and received nothing.After the animals were killed,cartilage specimen were obtained and sections were made and stained with HE/SOFG for Mankin score;the expression level of collagen Ⅰ and Ⅱ in matrix was tested by immunohistochemistry;change of ultramicrostructure of cartilage was observed with transmission electron microscope.[Result]Mankin score in group S was better than that in group D and K at each test period;result of IHC shows that positive stain area of collagen Ⅰ was lower in group S than that in group D and K,and positive stain area of collagen Ⅱ was higher than that in group D and K at each test period;cartilage impairment degree in group S was lower than in group D and K,and impairment manifestation in group D and K was similar on the whole.[Conclusion]sixpetal clematis root injection may protect articular cartilage by maintaining and promoting the chondrocyte synthesizing proteoglycan and type Ⅱ collagen.