A Comparative Study of CFA and MIA Induction Models in Rat Knee Arthritis

This study presents another comparative review of knee joint arthritis induction in rats using two distinct methods: Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA) and monosodium iodoacetate (MIA). Different variables are assessed, including bodyweight changes, knee bend scores, and knee diameter measurements, as well as the quantification of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and C-telopeptide of type II collagen (CTX-II) levels. CFA or MIA induction was used on rats, and 14 days were observed. Our data show that the impact of arthritis induction varies significantly across the two models. Both the CFA and MIA groups showed different changes in terms of bodyweight changes, knee bend scores, and knee diameter variations. Furthermore, the levels of IL-1β and CTX-II, both known indicators of inflammation and cartilage degeneration, were measured. Notably, IL-1β levels in the CFA group were considerably higher than in the MIA-induced rats, although CTX-II concentrations showed a contrary pattern. These findings highlight the need to carefully consider the induction approach when performing arthritis investigations in rats since the model used has a major impact on the reported physiological alterations. This study's comparative analysis provides useful information for researchers looking to use rat knee joint arthritis models, laying the groundwork for a better-informed selection of the best induction strategy depending on desired outcome metrics.