GROSS AND HISTOMORPHOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE EFFECT OF 2 WATT CM(2) THERAPEUTIC ULTRASOUND IN EXPERIMENTAL ACUTE ARTHRITIS IN THE DONKEYS/

Acute aseptic arthritis was induced in 8 healthy donkeys aged 3-4 year s and weighing 80-100 kg. The animals were divided into groups A and B of 4 animals each. Group A served as a control whereas in group B, pu lsed ultrasound therapy was applied for 10 min @ 2 watt/cm(2) starting from day-2 to day-8 after induction of arthritis. The joint capsule o f ultrasound therapy group showed mild joint capsule swelling and mild ly haemorrhagic synovial membrane as compared to control group. The ar ticular cartilage of control animals was reddish black, extensively er oded, thin and haemorrhagic. The gross appearance of articular cartila ge of the treatment group was more near normal. Microscopically, joint capsule showed complete sloughing of the intima layer and subintimal layer showed severe inflammatory reaction or even complete necrosis of the fibrous capsule and synovial membrane in the untreated animals. I n the animals given ultrasound therapy, the joint capsule was near nor mal. Synovial membrane of untreated animals showed less of AB material and was more PAS-positive. AB/PAS reaction was comparable to normal i n treated animals. Calcium deposition was not detectable in the joint capsule of the treatment group. Degeneration of the articular cartilag e was observed microscopically in control group animals. While the art icular cartilage of the ultrasound treated animals was comparable to n ormal cartilage. The AB/PAS reaction of articular cartilage in ultraso und treated group was comparable to normal.