The Effect of Ozone on Bone Strenght in Animal Model of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

Objective: Periarticular and systemic osteoporosis are more common in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) than normal population. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effectiveness of ozone on bone strength in Freund’s complete adjuvant (FCA) arthritis, which is considered as the animal model for RA. Materials and Methods: In this study, 28 male Wistar rats were used. Saline was injected into the hindpaws of 14 rats, and Freund’s complete adjuvant was injected into the hindpaws of the other 14 rats, subcutaneously. At the end of two weeks, 40 µg/ml ozone was administered intraperitoneally to 7 of the rats in each group for 6 times totally within duration of three weeks. At the 6th week, serum interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels were measured. Right femurs were separated for 3-point flexure test. Results: TNF-α levels of FCA arthritis were significantly higher than that of the control group (p0.05). Serum levels of IL-1 and IL-6 were not statistically significant among all groups (p>0.05). Maximum force and moment of inertia tended to increase in FCA arthritis-ozone group compare to the FCA arthritis group (p>0.05). The stiffness and toughness were similar in the all groups (p>0.05). Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study in which the effects of ozone on bone strength of RA were investigated. It is determined that ozone is not effective enough, but not harmful on bone strength of FCA arthritis. It is clear that further studies are required with ozone treatment and its use in RA when administrated in different doses and time courses.

Keywords

• Freund’s complet adjuvan arthritis
• rheumatoid arthritis
• ozone