The effects of orally administered tiaprofenic acid on the biosynthesis of proteoglycans in ex vivo cartilage cultures from joints of animals with early osteoarthritis

Abstract

An ovine model of early osteoarthritis was induced in 12 adult merino sheep by subjecting them to medial meniscectomy. Twelve weeks after surgery, the animals were randomly divided into two groups of 6 each. Group A received 20 mg/kg/day of sustained-release tiaprofenic acid (TA); group B received no drug. After 12 weeks of therapy all animals were sacrificed, and joints were opened under sterile conditions. Full-depth cartilage plugs were removed from the medial and lateral femoral condyles, patella, and trochlear groove. The tibial plateaux cartilage was sampled from the same areas; however, cartilage normally protected from the meniscus was examined separately from unprotected cartilage. ..