# JOINT DEAFFERENTATION AND EXPERIMENTAL OSTEOARTHRITIS

> **NIH NIH R01** · INDIANA UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS · 1988 · $92,562

## Abstract

Work by the PI and colleagues established that extensive dog
hindlimb deafferentation by L4-S1 ganglionectomy plus ad-lib
ambulation caused no biochemical or morphological changes in
femoral condylar cartilage within 16 months, as would have been
expected were protective muscular reflexes compromised.
Subsequent work revealed that if knee joint instability (by
anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) transection) is superimposed
upon a deafferented limb.  Local pathology of femoral condylar
cartilage may occur within 3 weeks.  Although neurogenically
intact dogs with knee joint instability may develop similar lesions
(osteoarthritis), this pathology is usually not morphologically
evident at 3 weeks.

On the basis of these results, we concluded that the reflexes that
protect a stable joint form exceeding its normal range of
excursions and becoming pathologic may not be initiated by nerve
endings located within peri- and intraarticular tissues.  However,
we also hypothesize that local nerve endings may initiate
muscular reflexes which protect an unstable joint from breaking
down.

We propose to test this latter hypothesis by transecting the
primary articular nerves of the canine knee and subsequently
creating joint instability by ACL transection, and sacrificing 7
animals at 4, ,8 and 16 weeks after surgery.  The pathology which
develops in these animals will be compared to that which develops
in dogs with intact sensory nerves but unstable joints, and dogs
with cut nerves and stable joints.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3158602
- **Project number:** 5R01AR038506-02
- **Recipient organization:** INDIANA UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS
- **SAM.gov UEI:** SHHBRBAPSM35
- **Principal Investigator:** BRIAN L O'CONNOR
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1988
- **Award amount:** $92,562
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1987-05-01 → 1989-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3158602

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3158602, JOINT DEAFFERENTATION AND EXPERIMENTAL OSTEOARTHRITIS (5R01AR038506-02). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3158602. Licensed CC0.

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