Effect of GCSB-5, a Herbal Formulation, on Monosodium Iodoacetate-Induced Osteoarthritis in Rats

Table 3

Summary of microscopic findings.

		MIA
		Vehicle	GCSB-5 (mg/kg)		Diclofenac
			300	600	5 mg/kg
Structural changes in the joint
Surface irregularities	+	0/4	2/4	1/4	2/4
	++	0/4	1/4	2/4	2/4
	+++	4/4	1/4	1/4	0/4
Average pathology score		3	1.8	2	1.5
Ulceration	+	0/4	1/4	3/4	1/4
	++	1/4	1/4	1/4	2/4
	+++	3/4	2/4	0/4	1/4
Average pathology score		2.8	2.3	1.3	2
Fibrillation of cartilage surface	+	0/4	1/4	2/4	3/4
	++	3/4	3/4	1/4	1/4
	+++	1/4	0/4	1/4	0/4
Average pathology score		2.3	1.8	1.8	1.3
Disorganization of chondrocytes	+	0/4	1/4	3/4	3/4
	++	2/4	3/4	1/4	0/4
	+++	2/4	0/4	0/4	1/4
Average pathology score		2.5	1.8	1.3	1.5
Exposure of subchondral bone	+	2/4	1/4	0/4	0/4
	++	1/4	0/4	1/4	0/4
	+++	1/4	0/4	0/4	0/4
Average pathology score		1.8	0.3	0.5	0
Cellular changes of chondrocyte
hypertrophy	+	1/4	3/4	1/4	0/4
	++	2/4	1/4	3/4	4/4
	+++	1/4	0/4	0/4	0/4
Average pathology score		2	1.3	1.8	2
Degeneration/necrosis	+	0/4	1/4	4/4	2/4
	++	1/4	0/4	0/4	2/4
	+++	3/4	3/4	0/4	0/4
Average pathology score		2.8	2.5	1	1.5
Inflammatory cell infiltration	+	1/4	3/4	2/4	3/4
in synovial tissue	++	1/4	1/4	1/4	0/4
	+++	2/4	0/4	0/4	1/4
Average pathology score		2.3	1.3	1	1.5
Synovial cell proliferation	+	1/4	3/4	3/4	3/4
	++	2/4	0/4	0/4	1/4
	+++	1/4	1/4	1/4	0/4
Average pathology score		2	1.5	1.5	1.3
Safranin-O staining
Reduction of staining in cartilage	+	0/4	3/4	1/4	1/4
	++	0/4	0/4	0/4	1/4
	+++	4/4	1/4	0/4	0/4
Average pathology score		3	1.5	0.3	0.8
Total pathology score (average ± S.E.M)		24.5±1.3	16.1±1.4^a	12.5±1.1^b	13.4±2.2^b

+: mild, ++: moderate, and +++: severe.
^a,bDenote significant differences (𝑃<0.05, 𝑃<0.01) versus the vehicle-treated MIA group. 𝑁=4.