Can treatment with chondroitin and glucosamine sulphate prevent changes in the articular disc caused by temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis?

Background

Chondroitin and glucosamine sulphates (CGS) are considered structure-modifying drugs and have been studied in the prevention, delay or reversal of structural morphological changes in joints caused by osteoarthritis.

Objective

The aim of the present study was to investigate the action of CGS on the progression of chemically induced osteoarthritis in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) of rabbits by evaluating the serum levels of tumour necrosis factor (TNF-α) and collagen in the articular discs.

Materials and Methods

A sample of 36 male rabbits was divided into three groups: control (CG), osteoarthritis (OG) and treatment (TG). The disease was induced by intra-articular injection of sodium monoiodoacetate (10 mg/mL) in the OG and TG groups bilaterally. After 10 days, the TG animals received subcutaneous injection of chondroitin sulphates and glucosamine (7.5 mg/kg) and the OG and CG received saline solution (50 μL). Euthanasia times were subdivided into 40 and 100 days. Collagen quantification was performed by biochemical and histological analysis and for the quantification of serum levels of TNF-α, an enzyme immunoassay was used.

Results

The TG showed an increase in the collagen area of the articular disc when compared to the CG and the OG. The increase collagen concentration in the discs did not show a statistically significant difference between the groups. Post-treatment TNF-α levels were significantly lower in TG compared to OG.

Conclusions

The results indicate that CGS treatment delayed the degeneration of the collagen in the TMJ articular disc and reduced serum TNF-α levels, indicating a preventive effect on OA progression.