An Assessment of the Chondroprotective Effects of Intra-Articular Application of Statin and Tetracycline on Early-Stage Experimental Osteoarthritis

Objectives. To compare the effects of intra-articular application of statin and tetracyclines on cartilage and synovial tissue on experimental osteoarthritis. Methods. Osteoarthritis was created in 30 rabbits of 3 groups. The control group received saline intra-articularly, statin group, atorvastatin and the tetracycline group, doxycycline once a week for 3 weeks. Chondral and synovial tissues were evaluated macroscopically and histopathologically. Results. Macroscopic evaluation determined mean values of control group 3.0, statin group 0.56, and tetracycline group 2.5. Histopathological evaluations determined mean values; femoral medial condyle cartilage tissue, control group, 14.60 ± 1.00, statin group 2.20 ± 1.30, tetracycline group 12.7 ± 5.39: tibia medial plateau, control group, 14.33 ± 8.68, statin group 2.89 ± 1.96, tetracycline group, 15.90 ± 7.03: synovial tissue, control group 12.22 ± 3.63, statin group 4.33 ± 2.69, tetracycline group 10.70 ± 2.62. Average values of synovial tissue cell layer thickness were control group 14.46 ± 2.35 μm, statin group 10.56 ± 1.01 μm, tetracycline group 12.80 ± 0.79 μm. All measurements showed statistically significant differences between statin and control groups (P < 0.05) but not between tetracycline and control groups (P > 0.05). Conclusions. Tetracycline has little effect due to chemical modification requirement, and the effect is dose dependent. Statins have chondroprotective effects, so may become a novel therapeutic agent in osteoarthritis management after chemical processing.