The Role of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells and glucosamine in The Treatment of Osteoarthritis induced by Monosodium iodoacetate in Adult Albino Rats.

Background: Osteoarthritis plays a significant role in progressive degeneration of articular cartilage.Aim: This study was performed to assess the role of (BM-MSCS) or glucosamine alone and a combination of both in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. Methods: 50 adult male albino rats were divided into five groups; Group I (control group(10 rats)) were divided equally into subgroup a; rats were fed on a standard diet without any drug. subgroup b; rats were injected by 50 µL physiological saline. Group II (osteoarthritis group (10 rats)) were injected by (MIA) (3 mg/50 µL). Group III (glucosamine treated group(10 rats)) after induction of OA they were given glucosamine sulfate (40 mg/kg/day orally). Group IV (BM-MSCS treated group(10 rats)) after induction of OA they were injected by BM-MSCS 10⁷ cells. Group V (glucosamine & BM-MSCS treated group(10 rats)) after induction of OA they were given glucosamine sulfate and were injected by BM-MSCS. After sacrificing rats at the end of the experiment, articular cartilage samples were prepared for light and electron microscopic examinations.Results: Osteoarthritic rats showed histological changes which were; decreased in thickness of cartilage, degenerated chondrocytes and fissuring of matrix. Slightly irregular surface and shrunken chondrocytes which appeared disorganized and few in number in glucosamine group was observed. Incomplete recovery in the MSCs group while restoration of the thickness, structure, and regular surface of the articular cartilage was detected in glucosamine and BM-MSCS treated groups.Conclusion: Treatment with glucosamine and MSCs showed improved histological architecture of the articular cartilage of osteoarthritic rats.