Histomorphometric assessment of bone changes in rats with type II collagen-induced arthritis

Numerous studies have demonstrated bone loss in rats following immobilization by tenotomy or nerve sectioning and following ovariectomy. However, few experiments have focused on bone change in rats with arthritis. We investigated bone loss in the proximal tibia and lumbar vertebra in rats with type II collagen-induced arthritis, an experimental model of rheumatoid arthritis, using histomorphometry. Bone loss in the early phase after immunization reflected a significant increase in numbers of osteoclasts and temporarily decreased bone formation. In the proximal tibia, near an arthritic joint, osteoclast numbers associated with bone trabeculae were increased four times over control numbers 4 weeks after immunization. In the lumbar vertebra, where arthritis was not shown, recruitment of osteoclasts occurred later than in the proximal tibia. With time, in both the proximal tibia and lumbar vertebra bone resorption normalized, but bone formation rate and double-label surface by tetracycline, a parameter reflecting bone formation, were increased above control values. We conclude that differences between the proximal tibia and lumbar vertebra probably reflected resumption of function as well as distance from areas of inflammation. These findings indicate that collagen-induced arthritis in rats is a useful model not only of autoimmunity, but also of juxta-articular and generalized osteoporosis in rheumatoid arthritis.