School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China.
J Tradit Chin Med. 2019 Apr;39(2):229-236.
To evaluate the treatment effect of acupotomy (Apo) in a rabbit model of knee osteoarthritis (KOA), compare the results of Apo versus electroacupuncture (E-Apu) on ethology, morphology, and structure of the articular cartilage surface in a rabbit model of KOA, and analyze the differences in the treatment effects of Apo versus E-Apu.
Twenty-eight male New Zealand white rabbits were randomized into four groups: normal control, blank model, Apo, and E-Apu (n = 7 in each group). Except for the normal control group, the left hindlegs of all rabbits were fixed in an extended position for 5 weeks to establish the KOA model. The passive range of motion (PROM) and Lequesne index were measured before and after the establishment of the KOA model to assess the ethology in all groups. Safranin O-fast green staining and the Mankin score were used to assess the morphological cartilaginous changes to compare the effect of Apo versus E-Apu on the degeneration of articular cartilage, and to identify which therapy was superior in treating KOA.
Compared with before the establishment of the KOA model, the Lequesne index of the KOA model rabbits was significantly increased (P < 0.01), while the PROM was significantly decreased (P < 0.01). The articular cartilaginous tissue in the three model groups exhibited pathological variations in the form of laminar derangement of cartilage cells, and so the Mankin score was significantly increased compared with the control group (P < 0.01). At 1 week after the final treatment session, compared with the blank model group, both the Apo and E-Apu groups showed a significant decrease in the Lequesne index (P < 0.01), and attenuation in the degree of morphologic pathological changes (P < 0.05); The Apo improved the PROM significantly compared with the blank model group (P < 0.05), while the E-Apu had no effect (P > 0.05). Furthermore, compared with the E-Apu group, the Apo group had a significantly lower Lequesne index (P < 0.05), and a significantly greater PROM (P < 0.05).
In a rabbit model of KOA, both Apo and E-Apu reduce disorders of ethology and morphology, and improve the condition of the articular cartilage. The results suggest that Apo is more effective than E-Apu in improving the PROM and alleviating symptoms resulting from cartilage damage in a rabbit model of KOA.
评估针刀（Apo）治疗兔膝骨关节炎（KOA）模型的疗效，比较针刀与电针（E-Apu）对兔 KOA 模型关节软骨表面形态和结构的影响，并分析针刀与 E-Apu 治疗效果的差异。
将 28 只雄性新西兰白兔随机分为正常对照组、空白模型组、针刀组和电针组（每组 7 只）。除正常对照组外，所有兔子的左后肢均固定在伸展位 5 周，建立 KOA 模型。在建立 KOA 模型前后，测量各组的被动活动度（PROM）和 Lequesne 指数，以评估各组的行为学变化。采用番红 O-fast 绿染色和 Mankin 评分评估形态软骨变化，比较针刀与 E-Apu 对关节软骨退变的影响，确定哪种治疗方法更适合治疗 KOA。
与 KOA 模型建立前相比，KOA 模型兔的 Lequesne 指数显著升高（P<0.01），PROM 显著降低（P<0.01）。三组模型的关节软骨组织均出现软骨细胞层状排列紊乱等病理变化，Mankin 评分明显高于对照组（P<0.01）。末次治疗后 1 周，与空白模型组相比，针刀组和电针组的 Lequesne 指数均明显降低（P<0.01），形态学病理变化程度减轻（P<0.05）；针刀组 PROM 明显优于空白模型组（P<0.05），电针组无明显改善（P>0.05）。此外，与电针组相比，针刀组的 Lequesne 指数明显降低（P<0.05），PROM 明显增大（P<0.05）。
在兔 KOA 模型中，针刀和电针均可减轻行为和形态学紊乱，改善关节软骨状况。结果表明，针刀在改善兔 KOA 模型 PROM 和缓解软骨损伤引起的症状方面比电针更有效。
