In:
Journal of Orthopaedic Research, Wiley, Vol. 30, No. 10 ( 2012-10), p. 1581-1585
Kurzfassung:
In most animal models, unoperated contralateral limbs are used as controls. However, in some experimental circumstances, the contralateral limb may represent a skewed control. The main purpose of this study was to determine if the unoperated contralateral limb could be used as a control, or if a different unoperated animal's limb should be used instead. Seventeen rabbits were divided into two groups. Group 1 rabbits ( n = 12) underwent surgery on their right limbs to induce a contracture. Group 2 rabbits ( n = 5) underwent no surgery. The left non‐operated limbs of rabbits in group 1 were biomechanically and genetically compared to the limbs of unoperated rabbits in group 2 with the use of a validated joint measuring device and custom microarray, respectively. After 8 weeks of immobilization, there was a statistically greater flexion contracture in the unoperated contralateral limbs compared to the limbs of animals that received no surgery(8.4 ± 8.9° vs. 0 ± 0°; p ‐value = 0.03). When animals were remobilized for an additional 16 weeks, the significance between groups was lost (11.9 ± 21.4° vs. 8.9 ± 9.5°; p = 0.38). Similarly, there was a statistically significant increase in nine genes at 8 weeks ( p 〈 0.001). However, at 24 weeks, only the PMCA 1 gene was statically increased ( p 〈 0.001). In our rabbit model, the non‐operated limb develops a small flexion contracture at 8 weeks. After 16 weeks of remobilization, there is no biomechanical or genetic difference between contralateral non‐operated limbs and limbs of animals not undergoing any surgical intervention. Given the biomechanical and genetic findings, the contralateral non‐operated limb can be used as a valid control. © 2012 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 30:1581–1585, 2012
Materialart:
Online-Ressource
ISSN:
0736-0266
,
1554-527X
Sprache:
Englisch
Verlag:
Wiley
Publikationsdatum:
2012
ZDB Id:
2050452-4
