Introduction: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a very common cause of disability. Chondrocytes stress and degradation of the extracellular matrix are characteristics of its pathogenesis. This can present clinically as pain and the joint shows inflammation and loss of its normal function due to cartilage degeneration, bone remodeling together with osteophytes formation.
Aim of the Work: This work was aimed to evaluate the effect of PBMNCs versus PRP on the restoration of collagen fibers content in the articular cartilage of the knee joint in a model of osteoarthritis in rats by using Mallory trichrome stain.
Materials and Methods: 39 male adult albino rats were divided into donor and experimental groups that were subdivided into four groups: Group I represent as a control group, group II served as a model for induction of knee osteoarthritis, group III received single intra-articular injection of PBMNCs and group IV received single intra-articular injection of PRP. Knee joint specimens were processed for light microscopic examination (LM) to be stained with Mallory trichrome stain then the mean area percentage of collagen fibers was statistically analyzed.
Results: Group II showed a homogenous decrease in collagen content in all cartilage zones. Group III demonstrated a moderate increase in collagen content mainly in the non-calcified zone but to a lesser extent in the radial and calcified zone. Group IV revealed a mild increase in the collagen content of the articular cartilage. Statistical analysis of the area percentage of collagen fibers confirmed LM findings.
Conclusion: Local intra-articular injection of PBMNCs restored the collagen fibers of the articular cartilage in a model of rat knee osteoarthritis better than those treated by PRP.