Publications & Presentations
Congrats to Dr. Tompkins on his work for the recently published article!
Ferenc Tóth DVM, Ph.D; Casey P. Johnson Ph.D; Benigno Mills; Mikko J. Nissi Ph.D; Olli Nykänen; Jutta Ellermann MD, Ph.D; Kai D. Ludwig Ph.D.; Marc Tompkins MD; Cathy S. Carlson DVM, Ph.D
Abstract
Juvenile osteochondritis dissecans (JOCD) is a developmental disease characterized by formation of intra‐articular (osteo)chondral flaps or fragments. Evidence‐based treatment guidelines for JOCD are currently lacking. An animal model would facilitate study of JOCD and evaluation of diagnostic and treatment approaches. The purpose of this study was to assess the suitability of miniature pigs as a model of JOCD at the distal femur. First, stifle (knee) joints harvested from three juvenile miniature pigs underwent MRI to establish the vascular architecture of the distal femoral epiphyseal cartilage. Second, vessels supplying the axial or abaxial aspects of the medial femoral condyle were surgically interrupted in four additional juvenile miniature pigs, and the developing epiphyseal cartilage lesions were monitored using three consecutive MRI examinations over nine weeks. The miniature pigs were then euthanized, and their distal femora were harvested for histological evaluation. Vascular architecture of the distal femoral epiphyseal cartilage in the miniature pigs was found to be nearly identical to that of juvenile human subjects, characterized by separate vascular beds supplying the axial and abaxial aspects of the condyles. Surgical interruption of the vascular supply to the abaxial aspect of the medial femoral condyle resulted in ischemic cartilage necrosis (a precursor lesion of JOCD) in 75% (3/4) of the miniature pigs. Cartilage lesions were identified during the first MRI performed 3 weeks post‐operatively. No clinically‐apparent JOCD‐like lesions developed. In conclusion, miniature pigs are suitable for modelling JOCD precursor lesions. Further investigation of the model is warranted to assess induction of clinically‐apparent JOCD lesions.
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