Histomorphometry of Bone Microarchitecture in Rats Treated with Vitamin D and Bisphosphonate in the Management of Osteoporosis / Histomorfometria da microarquitetura óssea em ratas tratadas com vitamina D e bisfosfonato no manejo da osteoporose

Abstract Objective To verify how the combined administration of alendronate (ALN) and vitamin D3 (VD) acts on the bone microarchitecture in rats with glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis. Methods The experiment used 32 90-day-old female Wistar rats weighing between 300 and 400g. The induction of osteoporosis consisted of intramuscular administration of dexamethasone at a dose of 7.5 mg/kg of body weight once a week for 5 weeks, except for the animals in the control group. The animals were separated into the following groups: G1 (control group without osteoporosis), G2 (control group with osteoporosis without treatment), G3 (group with osteoporosis treated with ALN 0.2 mg/kg), G4 (group with osteoporosis treated with VD 10,000UI/500μL), and G5 (group with osteoporosis treated with ALN þ VD). The right femurs of the rats were fixed in 10% buffered formaldehyde, decalcified, and processed for inclusion in paraffin. Histological sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin for histomorphometric analysis. Cortical thickness and medullary cavity were measured in cross-sections. Results There was a statistical difference (p< 0.05) between groups G3 and G5 compared with the positive control group (G2), both related to the measurement of cortical thickness and to the total diameter of the bone. In the evaluation of the spinal area, only the G3 group has shown to be statistically different from the G2 group. Conclusion Concomitant treatment with daily ALN and weekly VD is effective in preventing glucocorticoid-induced bone loss. However, there was no difference between the therapy tested and treatment with ALN alone.

Resumo Objetivo Verificar como a administração conjunta de alendronato de sódio (ALN) e vitamina D3 (VD) atua na microarquitetura óssea em ratas com osteoporose induzida por glicocorticoide. Métodos O experimento utilizou 32 ratas da linhagem Wistar, com peso médio de 300 a 400g, com 90 dias de vida. A indução da osteoporose consistiu na administração de dexametasona na dose de 7,5 mg/kg de peso corporal, por via intramuscular, 1 vez por semana durante 5 semanas, à exceção dos animais do grupo controle. Os animais foram distribuídos nos seguintes grupos: G1 (grupo controle sem osteoporose), G2 (grupo controle com osteoporose sem tratamento), G3 (grupo com osteoporose tratado com ALN 0,2 mg/kg), G4 (grupo com osteoporose tratado com VD 10.000UI/500μL) e G5 (grupo com osteoporose tratado com ALN þ VD). Os fêmures direitos das ratas foram fixados em formol a 10% tamponado, descalcificados e processados para inclusão em parafina. Os cortes histológicos foram corados com hematoxilina-eosina para análise histomorfométrica. A espessura cortical e a cavidade medular foram medidas em cortes transversais. Resultados Houve diferença estatística (p< 0,05) entre os grupos G3 e G5 em relação ao grupo controle positivo (G2), tanto em relação à medida da espessura cortical quanto em relação ao diâmetro total do osso. Na avaliação da área medular, apenas o grupo G3 se mostrou estatisticamente diferente do grupo G2. Conclusão O tratamento concomitante com ALN diário e VD semanal é eficaz para prevenir a perda óssea induzida por glicocorticoide. No entanto, não houve diferença entre esta terapia testada e o tratamento apenas com o ALN.

Quantification of neural elements in posterior cruciate ligament: comparison between healthy knees and with primary osteoarthrosis / Quantificação dos elementos neurais no ligamento cruzado posterior: comparação entre joelhos hígidos e com osteoartrose primária

ABSTRACT Objective: To quantify the neural elements in the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) in healthy knees and with primary osteoarthrosis (OA). Methods: In two groups with OA, one of cadavers and another of individuals, the area of neural elements identified in histological sections of PCL with anti-S100 immunohistochemistry was quantified. Results: The overall mean area of the neural elements was 0.96% ± 0.67%, with the value in the cadaver group of 1.02% ± 0.67% and in the OA group of 0.80% ± 0.64%, with a significant statistically difference (p = 0.001). No correlation was observed between neural element quantification and the age of the individuals (p > 0.05). There was no difference in the quantification of neural elements between the sexes in the cadaver group (p = 0.766), but in the OA group there was a statistically significant reduction in males (p = 0.003). Also, in the osteoarthrosis group there was no difference in the quantification of neural elements in the knees with varus or valgus alignment (p = 0.847). Conclusion: There was a decrease in neural element quantification in PCL of individuals affected by OA in relation to non-arthritic individuals, with this quantification not related to age or with the axis of the lower limb. However, this quantification is not related to age or the axis of the lower limb. Level of Evidence III, Case control study.

RESUMO Objetivo: Quantificar os elementos neurais no ligamento cruzado posterior (LCP) em joelhos hígidos e com osteoartrose primária (OA). Métodos: Em um grupo de cadáveres e outro de indivíduos com ao, foi realizada a quantificação da área dos elementos neurais identificados em cortes histológicos do LCP com imunohistoquímica anti-S100. Resultados: A média geral da área dos elementos neurais foi 0,96% ± 0,67%, com o valor no grupo cadáver de 1,02% ± 0,67% e no grupo OA de 0,80% ± 0,64%, havendo uma diferença estatisticamente significante (p = 0,001). Não se observou correlação entre a quantificação dos elementos neurais e a idade dos indivíduos (p > 0,05). Não se observou diferença na quantificação dos elementos neurais entre os sexos no grupo cadáver (p = 0,766), mas no grupo OA se observou redução estatisticamente significante no sexo masculino (p = 0,003). No grupo OA não houve diferença na quantificação dos elementos neurais nos joelhos com alinhamento varo ou valgo (p = 0,847). Conclusão: Foi demonstrada uma redução na quantificação dos elementos neurais no LCP de indivíduos acometidos por OA em relação aos indivíduos não artrósicos, com essa quantificação não tendo relação com idade nem com o eixo do membro inferior. Nível de evidência III, Estudo de caso controle.

A comparative study of the areas of osteochondral defects produced in femoral condyles of rabbits treated with sugar cane biopolymer gel

PURPOSE: To assess the histological response of damaged osteochondral tissue in the femoral condyles of rabbits after repairing the wounds with sugar cane biopolymer gel - compared to the control group. METHODS: The study investigated 16 New Zealand rabbits, at 90, 120 and 180 days after surgery. In all the animals, a lesion of 3.2 mm in diameter and 4 mm deep was induced in each right and left femoral condyle. Each animal has provided both knees, divided into medial and lateral condyle, resulting in 64 samples. 32 knees were divided into two groups: Right knee, medial and lateral condyles, filled with biopolymer; Left knee, medial and lateral condyles, unfilled. The anatomical specimens were removed, and subjected to histological techniques and morphometric and statistical analysis. RESULTS: In all the periods of the group under study an inflammatory reaction mediated by giant cells and mononuclear cells was found, while in the control group there was early healing produced by fibroblasts and few mononuclear cells with statistical significance between groups. CONCLUSION: The biopolymer gel caused an inflammatory reaction mediated by giant cells and mononuclear cells while the control group there was cicatrization mediated by fibroblasts.