Osteochondral lesion mouse model: An alternative for experimental work

Abstract Objective To report a reproducible and inexpensive model of critical osteochondral lesion (LOC) in adult mice for experimental studies. Materials and methods An experimental study was conducted on 20 BKS mice of 15 weeks old, in which a LOC of 0.5 mm in diameter was made in the trochlear groove. Ten animals were sacrificed at day 7, and the other 10 animals at day 14 of follow-up. To assess the ability of the animal to repair/regenerate, a histological analysis was performed using hematoxylin–eosin and safranin-O stains, and the results were evaluated by the ICRS scale using areas of healthy cartilage from the same joint as control. The Mann–Whitney U test was used for the statistical analyses of scores (averages). Results Significant differences were found on days 7 and 14 between the LOC area and control areas, but no differences were found between the day 7 and day 14. Conclusion This model of LOC in the trochlear groove of adult mice is highly reproducible, and could be used in further studies to obtain better treatments for chondral pathologies.