OBJECTIVE: To observe the influence of intra-articular injection of sodium hyaluronate (HA) on the mRNA expressions of matrix metalloproteinase-1,-3 (MMP-1,-3) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) in cartilage and synovium of traumatic osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS: Sixteen white rabbits underwent unilateral anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) were divided into 2 groups randomly 5 weeks after transection. The experimental group rabbits received 0.3 ml of 1% HA by intra-articular injection once a week. Animals in the control group were treated under the same conditions using physiological saline. Ten weeks following surgery, cartilage and synovium were harvested. The mRNA expressions of MMP-1, MMP-3 and TIMP-1 were analyzed using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: In synovium, the mRNA expression of MMP-3 was suppressed in the HA injection group. HA treatment had no effect on the MMP-3 expression in cartilage. No significant difference of MMP-1 and TIMP-1 expressions in cartilage and synovium was found between the HA injection group and the control group. CONCLUSIONS: One of the mechanisms of the therapeutic effect of HA may be the inhibition of expression of MMP-3 in synovium during early stage of traumatic OA.