Histopathological analyses of murine menisci: implications for joint aging and osteoarthritis.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To establish a standardized protocol for histopathological assessment of murine menisci that can be applied to evaluate transgenic, knock-out/in, and surgically induced OA models.

Methods

Knee joints from C57BL/6J mice (6-36 months) as well as from mice with surgically-induced OA were processed and cut into sagittal sections. All sections included the anterior and posterior horns of the menisci and were graded for (1) surface integrity, (2) cellularity, (3) Safranin-O staining distribution and intensity. Articular cartilage in the knee joints was also scored.

Results

The new histopathological grading system showed good inter- and intra-class correlation coefficients. The major age-related changes in murine menisci in the absence of OA included decreased Safr

SUBMITTER: Kwok J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4799761 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature