Protective effects of calcium gluconate on osteoarthritis induced by anterior cruciate ligament transection and partial medial meniscectomy in Sprague-Dawley rats

  • J Orthop Surg Res. 2014 Mar 7;9(1):14. doi: 10.1186/1749-799X-9-14.
Su-Jin Kang ,  Joo-Wan Kim ,  Ki-Young Kim ,  Sae-Kwang Ku  1 ,  Young-Joon Lee
Affiliations
  • 1. The Medical Research Center for Globalization of Herbal Medicine, Daegu Haany University, Gyeongsan, Gyeongsangbuk-do 712-715, Repulic of Korea. [email protected].
PMID: 24602500 DOI: 10.1186/1749-799X-9-14
Abstract

Background: This study aimed to determine whether calcium gluconate exerts protective effects on osteoarthritis (OA) induced by anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) transection and partial medial meniscectomy.

Methods: Calcium gluconate was administered by mouth daily for 84 days to male ACL transected and partial medial meniscectomized Sprague-Dawley rats 1 week after operation.

Results: Eighty-four days of treatment with 50 mg/kg calcium gluconate led to a lower degree of articular stiffness and cartilage damage compared to the OA control, possibly through inhibition of overexpressed cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and related chondrocyte Apoptosis. Similar favorable effects on stiffness and cartilage were detected in calcium gluconate-administered rats. Additionally, calcium gluconate increased 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) uptake based on observation of BrdU-immunoreactive cells on both the femur and tibia articular surface cartilages 84 days after intra-joint treatment with calcium gluconate.

Conclusions: Taken together, our results demonstrate that calcium gluconate has a protective effect against OA through inhibition of COX-2 and related chondrocyte Apoptosis.

Products