Effect Of Hydrogen Sulfide On Articular Cartilage In Rabbits With Knee Osteoarthritis

Objective:To study the effect of hydrogen sulfide on articular cartilage degeneration of osteoarthritis by using New Zealand white rabbits to establish a model of knee osteoarthritis,to explore the protective effect of hydrogen sulfide on articular cartilage,and to provide theoretical basis for the treatment of osteoarthritis with hydrogen sulfide.Methods:Thirty-two healthy male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into four groups:A,B,C,and D.They were blank control group,OA model group,H₂S intervention group,and H₂S-inhibiting group,including 8 rats in each group.Group A did not undergo special treatment,and groups B,C and D used modified Hulth method to establish an animal model of knee osteoarthritis.One week after surgery,each group of B,C,and D was injected with 1 ml of normal saline,NaHS dilution,and H₂S synthetase inhibitor in the knee joint cavity,once a week for 6 weeks.One week after the last injection,the animals in each group were sacrificed,and the knee joints were dissected for gross observation.Then,the articular cartilage of the knee joint was excised,stained with hematoxylin-eosin?HE?,histological observation,and scored according to Mankin's method;The expression of type II collagen in articular cartilage was detected by immunohistochemistry.The expression of MMP-1,MMP-3 and MMP-13 mRNA in articular cartilage was detected by RT-PCR.Results:General observation:The articular surface of group A was smooth and flat,the cartilage was light blue-white and translucent,no cracks and softened lesions,no osteophyte formation;group B had fissures and ulcers on the surface of articular cartilage,but did not reach bone,and there was some osteophyte formations;Group C had rough articular surface,yellowish articular cartilage,a few cracks and osteophyte formation;Group D had articular surface cracks and ulcers deep to bone,and subchondral bone was exposed with a large number of osteophytes formed.Under light microscope:the articular cartilage of group A was normal,the chondrocytes were arranged in order,and the matrix was evenly stained;the articular cartilage of group B was degenerated and severely cartilage,the cells were arranged disorderly,and the matrix staining was uneven;in group C,the degeneration of articular cartilage was lighter,a small number of chondrocyte clustered and the matrix staining was more uniform;the degeneration of articular cartilage in group D was heavier than that in group B,and the cell arrangement was severely disordered,showing a wide range of cartilage fibrosis and subchondral bone.Mankin's score:Group A scored 0-1;Group B scored 8-10;Group C scored 3-5;Group D scored 9-11.The scores of group B,C,and D were higher than those of group A,and the difference was statistically significant?P<0.05?.The score of group C was lower than that of group B,the difference was statistically significant?P<0.05?;the score of group D was higher than that of group B.The difference was statistically significant?P<0.05?.Type II collagen staining:Compared with group A,type II collagen positive staining was decreased and unevenly distributed in group B;type II collagen positive staining in group C was more than that in group B;the positive staining of type II collagen in group D was lower and the superficial layer was defective.Compared with group A,the expressions of MMP-1,MMP-3 and MMP-13 mRNA in articular cartilage of group B,C and D increased,the difference was statistically significant?P<0.05?;compared with group B,the expressions of MMP-1,MMP-3 and MMP-13 mRNA in articular cartilage of group C were significantly lower?P<0.05?.The expressions of MMP-1,MMP-3 and MMP-13mRNA were compared between group D and group B.The difference was statistically significant?P<0.05?.Conclusion:H₂S can inhibit the expression of MMP-1,MMP-3 and MMP-13 in articular cartilage,reduce the degradation of collagen II in articular cartilage,and protect articular cartilage in osteoarthritis.