[Roentgenologic determination of degenerative joint diseases in a new animal experiment arthrosis model]

Our previous experiments have shown that intraarticular injections of sodium iodoacetate or phenylbutazone into the knee joint of animals (hens) induce degeneration of the articular tissues. This method proved to be a useful model for experimental osteoarthrosis. After autopsy degenerative processes in the joint can be evaluated by macroscopical, histological and biochemical techniques, and show good correlations with osteoarthrosis in humans. To study the onset and progress of experimentally induced osteoarthrosis in living animals we developed a new X-ray method using special mammography-film (Kodak Definix Medical). By this technique also changes of the joint space can be measured quantitatively. Comparison between the degenerative lesions of cartilage as seen macroscopically during autopsy and the data obtained from the living animal by X-ray techniques show excellent correlations. By using X-ray mammography film in our studies of experimental model it is possible to observe the pathological alterations of the knee joint of the living animals and to investigate the effect of pharmacologically active compounds for the treatment of osteoarthrosis.