Journal of Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Medical Science) >

2026 , Vol. 46 >Issue 1: 82 - 89

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1674-8115.2026.01.010

Techniques and methods

Construction of a rat model of temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis induced by monosodium iodoacetate

  • Li Ziyu ,
  • Zhu Zeyu ,
  • Qian Jiakang ,
  • Chen Yulu ,
  • Lu Jiayu
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  • 1.Department of Stomatology, Shanghai Sixth People′s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200233, China
    2.Department of Health Sciences, National Natural Science Foundation of China, Beijing 10085, China
First author contact:The study was designed by Li Ziyu, Zhu Zeyu, and Lu Jiayu. The experiments were completed by Li Ziyu, Zhu Zeyu, and Qian Jiakang. The data were analyzed by Zhu Zeyu. The manuscript was drafted and revised by Li Ziyu, Zhu Zeyu, Qian Jiakang, Chen Yulu, and Lu Jiayu. All authors have read the last version of paper and consented to submission.
Lu Jiayu, E-mail: angelinelu@sjtu.edu.cn.

Received date: 2025-05-05

  Accepted date: 2025-09-22

  Online published: 2026-01-30

Supported by

“Two-hundred Talents” Program of Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine(2019-1832)

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Abstract

Objective ·To optimize the method of injecting monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) into the joint cavity, shorten the experimental duration, and evaluate the feasibility of constructing temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJOA) models in rats with different degrees of injury. Methods ·Eighteen male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 6 groups. The control group was injected with 50 μL of normal saline into the bilateral articular cavities of each rat, and the other 5 groups were injected with MIA at concentrations of 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 or 2.5 mg/50 μL. The groups were recorded as the NS group, and MIA 1~5 groups. After 7 days, the condyles of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) were collected for observation and analysis. The surface morphology of the condyles was observed under a stereomicroscope. Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) was used to scan and analyze the subchondral bone of the condyles [bone volume/total tissue volume (BV/TV), trabecular separation/spacing (Tb.Sp), and trabecular bone number (Tb.N)]. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and safranin O-fast green staining were used for histological observation of the condyle specimens, and the modified Mankin scores were used for evaluation. Results ·Compared with the control group, under a stereomicroscope, minor changes were observed on the condylar surface of the MIA1 and MIA2 groups at 7 days after modeling, while obvious and evenly distributed bone destruction was observed in the condyles of the MIA3, MIA4, and MIA5 groups. Micro-CT three-dimensional reconstruction showed obvious bone resorption in the condyles of the MIA3, MIA4 and MIA5 groups, and local destruction of the condylar surface in the MIA1 and MIA2 groups. Bone parameter analysis revealed a significant decrease in BV/TV (P=0.039, P=0.019) and a significant increase in Tb.Sp in the MIA4 and MIA5 groups (P=0.030, P=0.003); Tb.N was significantly reduced in the MIA5 group (P=0.004). HE and safranin O-fast green staining results showed that the fibrous layer in the MIA1 group was not smooth, and the proteoglycan content (red-stained area) did not change significantly. The structure of the MIA2 group was unclear, cell-free areas appeared, and proteoglycan began to decrease. The structure of the MIA3 group was disordered and the number of cells was significantly reduced. The cartilage layer in the MIA4 and MIA5 groups was almost invisible. The modified Mankin scores in the MIA3, MIA4 and MIA5 groups were higher than those in the control group (P=0.008, P<0.001, P<0.001). Conclusion ·When the modeling time is 1 week, 1.5 mg/50 μL is an intermediate dose that induces typical TMJOA manifestations in cartilage without significant destruction of subchondral bone, and can be used to construct an animal model with cartilage defects as the main lesion.A dose of 2.0 mg/50 μL MIA can be used to establish a rat TMJOA model with subchondral bone destruction as the main feature.

Key words： temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJOA); monosodium iodoacetate (MIA); animal model; rat

Cite this article

Li Ziyu , Zhu Zeyu , Qian Jiakang , Chen Yulu , Lu Jiayu . Construction of a rat model of temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis induced by monosodium iodoacetate[J]. Journal of Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Medical Science), 2026 , 46(1) : 82 -89 . DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1674-8115.2026.01.010

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