The effect of low dose intra-articular S(+) ketamine on osteoarthritis in rats: an experimental study

Eugênio Dos Santos Neto; Pedro Paulo de Alcantara Pedro; Maria do Socorro de Sousa Cartágenes; José Osvaldo Barbosa Neto; João Batista Santos Garcia

doi:10.1016/j.bjane.2024.844502

The effect of low dose intra-articular S(+) ketamine on osteoarthritis in rats: an experimental study

Braz J Anesthesiol. 2024 Apr 9;74(3):844502. doi: 10.1016/j.bjane.2024.844502. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Eugênio Dos Santos Neto¹, Pedro Paulo de Alcantara Pedro², Maria do Socorro de Sousa Cartágenes³, José Osvaldo Barbosa Neto⁴, João Batista Santos Garcia⁵

Affiliations

¹ Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil.
² Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
³ Universidade Federal do Maranhão, Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas; Universidade Federal do Maranhão, Laboratório Experimental para Estudo da Dor, São Luiz, MA, Brazil; Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Ceuma, São Luiz, MA, Brazil.
⁴ Universidade Federal do Maranhão, Laboratório Experimental para Estudo da Dor, São Luiz, MA, Brazil; Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Ceuma, São Luiz, MA, Brazil. Electronic address: jose.barbosa@ceuma.br.
⁵ Universidade Federal do Maranhão, Laboratório Experimental para Estudo da Dor, São Luiz, MA, Brazil; Universidade Federal do Maranhão, Departamento de Anestesiologia, Dor e Paliativos, São Luiz, MA, Brazil.

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to investigate the analgesic impact of S(+)-ketamine on pain behavior and synovial inflammation in an osteoarthritis (OA) model.

Methods: Animals were grouped as follows: OA-Saline (n = 24) and OA-Ketamine (n = 24), OA induced via intra-articular sodium monoiodoacetate (MIA); a Non-OA group (n = 24) served as the control. On the 7^th day post OA induction, animals received either saline or S(+)-ketamine (0.5 mg.kg^-1). Behavioral and histopathological assessments were conducted up to day 28.

Results: S(+)-ketamine reduced allodynia from day 7 to 28 and hyperalgesia from day 10 to 28. It notably alleviated weight distribution deficits from day 10 until the end of the study. Significant walking improvement was observed on day 14 in S(+)-ketamine-treated rats. Starting on day 14, OA groups showed grip force decline, which was countered by S(+)-ketamine on day 21. However, S(+)-ketamine did not diminish synovial inflammation.

Conclusion: Low Intra-articular (IA) doses of S(+)-ketamine reduced MIA-induced OA pain but did not reverse synovial histopathological changes.

Irb approval number: 23115 012030/2009-05.

Keywords: Animal models; Osteoarthritis; S(+)-Ketamine; Synovial Membrane; Synovitis.