Animal Models of Osteoarthritis: Updated Models and Outcome Measures 2016–2023

Triterpenes Drug Delivery Systems, a Modern Approach for Arthritis Targeted Therapy

“…However, large interspecies difference in the expression of metabolic enzymes and drug elimination pathways, which influence both drug pharmacokinetics and pharmacology, requires careful selection of the animal model. Several animal models of arthritis, either experimentally induced or spontaneous, have been developed that significantly contributed to understanding disease pathogenesis and permitted evaluation of new potential anti-arthritic agents, despite no single animal model being able to fully replicate all the clinical features of human arthritis [ 7 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 ]. Both spontaneous and induced animal models of arthritis are available.…”

“…Naturally occurring arthritis has been reported in aged mice, guinea pigs, rabbits, pigs, dogs, sheep, goat, horses, and macaques. Although naturally occurring arthritis models more closely mimic the onset and progression of human arthritis, they are slowly progressive, require animal skeletal maturity, and can be costly and time-consuming [ 41 , 42 ].…”

“…Therefore, induced models of arthritis are preferable for the assessment of anti-arthritic agents. These models involve mechanically induced joint destabilization or chemical treatment, usually by intra-articular injection of the chemical agent, causing an inflammatory reaction that mimics arthritis development [ 7 , 41 , 42 , 44 , 45 ]. The knee is the joint most often employed in animal models of arthritis [ 41 , 42 ].…”

“…Models of induced arthritis predominantly employ small animals, mainly mice, rats, and guinea pigs. Mechanical destabilization of the joint is usually surgically induced (e.g., anterior cruciate ligament transection, medial meniscus tear, partial meniscectomy), mimicking post-traumatic osteoarthritis [ 41 , 42 ]. Non-invasive techniques, such as tibial overload compression, intra-articular tibial plateau fracture, cyclic articular cartilage tibial compression and trans-articular impact, require expensive machinery and are less often used [ 42 ].…”

“…Mechanical destabilization of the joint is usually surgically induced (e.g., anterior cruciate ligament transection, medial meniscus tear, partial meniscectomy), mimicking post-traumatic osteoarthritis [ 41 , 42 ]. Non-invasive techniques, such as tibial overload compression, intra-articular tibial plateau fracture, cyclic articular cartilage tibial compression and trans-articular impact, require expensive machinery and are less often used [ 42 ]. Chemically induced models are less invasive than those surgically induced and can be performed in a shorter timeframe, however, their pathophysiology does not correlate with the chronic and slowly progressive degeneration in human arthritis.…”