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Updated: Mar 29, 2026

A Reproducible Cartilage Impact Model to Generate Post-Traumatic Osteoarthritis in the Rabbit
Published on: November 21, 2023
[Changes of six serum biomarkers of rabbits with experimental osteoarthritis]
Objective:
To investigate the value and significance of six serum biomarkers to the early diagnosis of osteoarthritis by means of quantitative detection of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP-13), IL-6, C-terminal telopeptide of collagen type II (CTX2), cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) levels with time going on.
Methods:
40 New Zealand white rabbits were divided into experimental group (n=20) and control group (n=20). Injection of collagenase into articular cavity was performed in the experimental group for modeling. No treatment was done in the control group. Pathological observation, X-ray examination and HE staining of knee joints were conducted to verify the establishment of modeling. IL-1, MMP-13, IL-6, CTX2, COX2 and PGE2 levels were detected every two weeks after modeling in the experimental group, and these biomarkers were also detected in the control group at the same time points.
Results:
Levels of the six serum biomarkers in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group at each time point after modeling and were the most distinguishing at the 4th week.
Conclusion:
Combined detection of IL-1β, IL-6, CTX2, COX2 and PGE2 in serum is helpful for early diagnosis of osteoarthritis.

