Abstract
Objective To evaluate the effects of hydrolyzed collagen and collagen peptide in the treatment
of superficial chondral lesions in rats.
Method This research employed 18 Rattus norvegicus. A single intraarticular infiltration of sodium iodoacetate (2 mg solution) through
the patellar ligament induced joint damage in previously anesthetized animals. We
divided the animals into three groups: a control group, a collagen peptide group,
and a hydrolyzed collagen group. Treatment consisted of oral administration of collagen
peptide or hydrolyzed collagen for 30 days. Afterwards, we euthanized the animals
and studied the joint chondral changes. We evaluated the results according to the
chondrocyte clusters count and a histological evaluation, as per Pritzker et al.
Results There was no statistical significance in injury stages between the control, hydrolyzed
collagen, and collagen peptide groups (p = 0.11). Regarding scores, there was a statistical significance between the groups
treated with hydrolyzed collagen and collagen peptide (p < 0.05), but not in comparison with the control group.
Conclusion The proposed treatments of the induced chondral lesion with the oral administration
of hydrolyzed collagen or collagen peptides were effective, resulting in lesion stabilization
or regression, and warranting further experimental research to understand and improve
the primary outcome of this study.
Keywords
chondral lesion - collagen - knee - rats - treatment
