实验性骨关节病中软骨细胞的凋亡

Apoptosis of chondrocytes in experimental osteoarthritis

应用兔膝关节伸直位石膏管型固定造成的实验性骨关节病模型，对其关节软骨细胞进行形态学及原位ＤＮＡ 断裂标记研究。结果显示：制动１ 周时即出现软骨表层细胞凋亡，２ 周后凋亡呈增加趋势，６周时出现全层软骨细胞大量凋亡，而正常及实验对照组很少出现凋亡细胞。提示制动可引起软骨细胞凋亡；软骨细胞凋亡可能是关节软骨出现退变的重要机制之一。

The right knees of rabbits were immobilized in full extension for up to eight weeks using plaster cast. Specimens of the articular cartilage obtained from tibial plateau were studied by histopathologic and TDT mediated fluorescein dUTP nick end labelling(TUNEL) techniques. The results showed that TUNEL positive chondrocytes with apoptosis specific morphology were detected on superficial and middle layer of the articular cartilage from one to two weeks after immobilization, and these changes progressed until 4 weeks after immobilization. Six weeks after immobilization, TUNEL positive chondrocytes were seen through the entire thickness of the articular cartilage. Our findings indicate that apoptosis of chondrocytes could be induced by immobilization and might be responsible for articular cartilage degeneration, and which is one of the pathways involved in the pathophsiological mechanism of osteoarthritis.