Femoroacetabular Impingement Rabbit Model Induced by Exercise and Mechanical Stimulation.

BACKGROUND

Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is one of the major causes of hip pain. The pathogenesis of FAI remains unclear, and few animal models are available to study its mechanisms.

PURPOSE: To evaluate bone deformity formation, labrum, and articular cartilage injury induced by mechanical and exercise stimulation, and to establish an FAI model in New Zealand White rabbits.

STUDY

DESIGN

Controlled laboratory study.

METHODS

6-month-old (6M) and 1-month-old (1M) male rabbits were used. Three-dimensional printed polylactic acid scaffolds were surgically fixed to the acetabular rim, followed by postoperative treadmill training. Specimens were collected at 8 and 12 weeks. Bone deformities were assessed by micro-computed tomography. Histological evaluation included hematoxylin and eosin staining for morphology, Safranin O/Fast Green (SO/FG), and toluidine blue staining for proteoglycan and glycosaminoglycan deposition, and immunofluorescence for SRY-box transcription factor 9 (SOX9), aggrecan (ACAN), runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), and cluster of differentiation 31 (CD31) expression. Mechanical properties of the labrum and cartilage were evaluated by nanoindentation, with the Young's modulus as the stiffness parameter.

RESULTS

Gross evaluation (control [Ctrl] vs FAI, 6M: P < .0001, 1M: P < 0001) and micro-CT revealed significant bone deformities and cartilage damage in the FAI group. SO/FG staining showed reduced proteoglycan deposition (Ctrl vs FAI, 6M: P = .0001, 1M: P = .0006), accompanied by decreased SOX9 (Sham vs FAI, 6M: P < .0001, 1M: P < .0001), ACAN (Sham vs FAI, 6M: P = .0392, 1M: P < .0001) expression, and increased RUNX2 (Sham vs FAI, 6M: P = .0007, 1M: P = .0014) and CD31 (Sham vs FAI, 6M: P = .0018, 1M: P = .0071) expression. The Young's modulus of both the labrum (Ctrl vs FAI, 6M: P < .0001, 1M: P = .0061) and femoral head cartilage was reduced.

CONCLUSION

A stable, reproducible, and easily operable rabbit model of FAI was established using combined mechanical and exercise stimulation, providing a practical platform for investigating the pathogenesis of FAI.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: FAI animal models established through acetabular overcoverage surgery are expected to provide an effective tool for subsequent research into the pathogenesis of FAI, thereby laying a theoretical foundation for its early targeted treatment.