Effect of scan-bio laser therapy on arthropathy in rabbits

For the induction of arthropathy, 4% hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) was injected for 4 weeks into the intra-articular space of the 25 New Zealand white rabbits to damage articular cartilage. The verification of arthropathy induction and the effect of scan-bio laser treatment were determined by measuring superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, by observing gross and histopathologic findings. The SOD activity increased by about 40% in arthropathy group, as compared to controls. Although SOD activity in arthropathy group was not significantly different from the 2-week group, it was significantly different from the 4-week control and treatment groups. There was also a significant difference between the 4-week control and treatment groups. Grossly, erosions formed on the articular cartilage surface, and the lateral femoral condyle was damaged in arthropathy group. In comparison, there was slight, but not significant, progression of the lesion in the 2-week control group, and no difference between the 2-week treatment and control groups. Conversely, severe erosions damaged the articular cartilage in the 4-week control group. Cartilage proliferation was seen in gross observations in the 4-week treatment group, suggesting a treatment effect. Histopathologically, there was slight articular surface damage and apoptosis in arthropathy group, and serious cartilage damage, despite slight chondrocyte proliferation, in the 4-week control group. By contrast, the 4-week treatment group showed chondrocyte replacement, with close to normal articular cartilage on the articular surface. There was significant cartilage proliferation with regeneration of the articular cartilage on the articular surface in the group treated with low-level laser, as compared to control group, when arthropathy was induced by $H_2O_2$ injections. Therefore, low-level laser was effective in the treatment of chemically induced arthropathy.

토끼의 관절병증에 미치는 SCAN-BIO 레이저의 치료효과