Chondroneutrality of meloxicam in rats with spontaneous osteoarthrosis of the ankle joint

The effect of meloxicam, a new non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, on spontaneous osteoarthrosis of the ankle joint in Crl: CDBR rats was investigated. The drug was administered in the feed at doses of 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8 mg/kg/day over a period of 2 years to 50 males and 50 females per dose. 100 male rats and 100 female rats were used as controls. Histological examination revealed osteoarthrotic changes of varying degrees of severity in the hip, knee and ankle joints of both treated and untreated animals. The incidence and severity of these changes was greatest in the ankle joints. There was little difference between treated and untreated animals as regards the site, incidence, severity and histological appearance of the osteoarthrotic changes. At the doses tested, meloxicam does not affect the processes involved in spontaneous osteoarthrosis in the rat and can therefore be regarded as chondroneutral in this species.