GROSS AND HISTOMORPHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF ANTIARTHRITIC DRUG IN EXPERIMENTAL ACUTE TRAUMATIC ARTHRITIS IN DONKEYS

Acute aseptic arthritis was induced in 8 healthy donkeys aged 3-4 year s and weighing 80-100 kg. The animals were randomly divided into 2 gro ups A and B of 4 animals each. Group A served as a control whereas in group 8 antiarthritic drug (AD) was administered orally @ 20 g from da y 2 to 26. In AD treated animals, the gross changes in the joint capsu le, synovial membrane and articular cartilage were far less than those in control. Microscopically joint capsule showed complete longing of the intima layer and subintimal layer showed seven inflammatory reacti on or even complete necrosis of the intima layer and fibrous capsule a nd synovial membrane in untreated animals. In AD-treated animals vario us lavers of joint capsule showed organization and proliferation and i nflammatory cells were nor traceable. Synovial membrane of untreated a nimals showed less of alcinophilic material and was more PAS-positive as compared to treated animals. Calcium cartilage deposition was nor e vident in Joint capsule of the treatment group, Degeneration of articu lar was observed microscopically in control group animals as marked by fibrillation and desquamation of perichondrial tissue with different layers or even complete sloughing of the articular cartilage. Severity of articular cartilage changes in AD-treated animals was very much le ss than that in control group and the changes were restricted to tange ntial layer only.