To investigate the effect of estrogen on osteoarthritis in female rats.
Forty female rats were divided into four groups. In group I, the rats were not given any treatment as a control. In groups II, III and IV, the rats received fixing left knee joint on extension position. Meanwhile, the rats received ovariectomy in group III; ovariectomy and diethylstilbestrol treatment in group IV, respectively. After 4 weeks, histological observation and serum BGP examination were done.
In groups II, III and IV, the levels of serum BGP were 3.50 +/- 0.39, 5.72 +/- 0.64 and 3.95 +/- 0.44, respectively. The pathologic grades of cartilage and synovium were 10.83 +/- 4.35 and 4.21 +/- 2.03; 15.32 +/- 3.42 and 7.62 +/- 3.42; and 12.65 +/- 2.73 and 5.46 +/- 1.23, respectively.
Estrogen may play an important role in delaying the development of osteoarthritis.