Unit:
Τομέας ΧειρουργικήςLibrary of the School of Health Sciences
Dissertation committee:
Όλγα Δ. Σαββίδου, Αναπληρώτρια Καθηγήτρια, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ, Επιβλέπουσα
Παναγιώτης Ι. Παπαγγελόπουλος, Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ, Μέλος Τριμελούς Συμβουλευτικής Επιτροπής
Ιωάννης Κ. Τριανταφυλλόπουλος, Επίκουρος Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ, Μέλος Τριμελούς Συμβουλευτικής Επιτροπής
Βασίλειος Α. Κοντογεωργάκος, Επίκουρος Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Παναγιώτης Σ. Κουλουβάρης, Επίκουρος Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Βασίλειος Σ. Νικολάου, Επίκουρος Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Δημήτριος Σ. Μαστρόκαλος, Επίκουρος Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Original Title:
Πειραματικό ζωικό πρότυπο για τη διερεύνηση της πιθανότητας αναγέννησης του αρθρικού χόνδρου, μέσω του συνδυασμού πρόκλησης υποχόνδριων μικροκαταγμάτων και της φαρμακευτικής επαγωγής του μονοπατιού Wnt/β-Κατενίνης, σε κατάλληλο συγχρονισμό.
Translated title:
The combination of microfracture with induction of the Wnt/ β- catenin pathway leads to enhanced cartilage regeneration in an animal experimental model.
Summary:
Goals: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of modifying Wnt/ β- catenin signaling following microfracture, on the restoration of a full-thickness cartilage defect in a rabbit model. The modification of the canonical Wnt pathway was achieved through per os administration of lithium carbonate, which is an intracellular inhibitor of Gsk3-β and therefore induces Wnt / β - catenin signaling.
Materials and methods: Full-thickness cartilage defects 4 mm in diameter were created in the right patellar groove of 18 male New Zealand White rabbits. Three groups were formed (n= 6): microfracture only (group 1), microfracture plus Lithium carbonate 7 mM in the drinking water for one week (group 2), microfracture plus Lithium carbonate 7 mM in the drinking water for four weeks (group 3). All animals were sacrificed nine weeks after surgery. The outcome was assessed histologically, by using the the International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS) visual histological scale.
Results: Statistical analysis of the ICRS scores showed that group 3 was significantly superior to group 1 in four out of six ICRS categories, while Group 2 was not.
Discussion: In group 1, all samples presented an irregular cartilage surface, with a fibrocartilage matrix, and disorganized cell distribution. Group 2 showed a more regular surface. In group 3, the tissue surface was regular, with a hyaline matrix mixed with fibrocartilage, but with chondrocytes more organized in the tissue.
Conclusions: The combination of microfracture and systematic administration of Lithium carbonate 7 mM for four weeks shows statistical significant superiority in four out of six ICRS categories compared to microfracture only for the treatment of full thickness cartilage defects in a rabbit experimental model.
Main subject category:
Health Sciences
Keywords:
Articular cartilage, Microfracture, Wnt/β-catenin pathway
