Osteoarthritis

Overview

Pharmatest offers several rat- and rabbit-based models of osteoarthritis (OA). This is both the most common joint disease and also among the most common causes of chronic pain and disability in older people, affecting more than 12 per cent of total population in Western countries.

Several risk factors have been identified for the development of OA, including joint trauma that predisposes to post-traumatic OA.

Capabilities

Pharmatest offers four principal rat models of OA. These are:

• MIA model, where OA is caused chemically by intra-articular injection of monoiodoacetate (MIA)
• MMT+MCLT model, where OA is caused surgically by medial meniscal tear (MMT) and medial collateral ligament transection (MCLT)
• ACLT model, where OA is caused surgically by anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT)
• ACLT+pMMx model, where OA is caused surgically by ACLT and partial medial meniscectomy (pMMx)

Pharmatest also offers a rabbit model of pMMx that results in a moderate and progressive form of post-traumatic OA, resembling early onset of OA observed in human patients. In addition, Pharmatest is capable of performing studies with other post-traumatic models in rabbits, including the ACLT model.

Pharmatest offers specific standard and tailored study setups for the efficacy testing of new drug candidates, biosimilars and functional foods for treating OA.

Endpoint measurements

Follow-up measurements include determination of body weight, joint pain and serum levels of various OA biomarkers. Endpoint measurements include:

• digital radiography and micro-computed tomography (µCT) of knee joints
• macroscopic evaluation of articular surfaces
• microscopic scoring of degenerative changes in knee joints
• determination of proteoglycan content in uncalcified articular cartilage

Various imaging techniques, such as MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy) and polarization microscopy are also available on request.

Resources

Click on osteoarthritis models and testing services for more information.
Click on Pharmatest to contact the company directly.

Supplier Information
Supplier: Pharmatest Services Ltd
Address: Itäinen Pitkäkatu 4 C, 5th floor, 20520 Turku, Finland
Tel: +358 2 278 4700
Fax: +358 2 278 4710
Website: www.pharmatest.com