Spontaneous Osteoarthritic Lesions in a New Mutant Strain of the Mouse

摘要

In our laboratory, mice showing signs of osteoarthritic lesions with cinnamon colored (yellowish-brown) hair were discovered in a colony of B6C3F_1 mice. This mouse is characterized by tiptoe walking and swelling and ankylotic changes in the ankle joint. As to radiographic findings, osteoarthritic changes, such as erosion and/or fusion of the bone tissue, were evident in the ankle joints. Histopathological characteristics included irregularity of articular surfaces caused by fissuring and/or erosion with degeneration of articular cartilage, as well as osteophytes with abnormal proliferation of chondrocytes in joint margin regions.