Development of Osteoarthritis Animal Models and Severity Assessment Based on Histopathological Scoring

Abstract

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent degenerative joint disease worldwide, and its pathophysiology remains incompletely understood. Clinical studies in humans face limitations due to variability in disease progression, slow onset, and numerous confounding factors. Therefore, animal models are essential for exploring OA mechanisms and potential interventions. Objective: This study aims to identify various methods for developing OA animal models and the histopathological scoring systems used to assess disease severity. Method: A systematic literature review was conducted using databases including PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar, targeting articles published between 2015 and 2025. Keywords included “osteoarthritis,” “animal models,” and “histopathological assessment.” Totally 18 articles were analyzed. Result: The review found that OA models can be induced through natural aging, genetic modification, surgical destabilization, mechanical loading, or chemical induction (e.g., monoiodoacetate injection). Histopathological evaluation, commonly using Hematoxylin-Eosin and Safranin-O staining, is crucial to determine cartilage degradation and disease progression. Among scoring systems, the Mankin and OARSI methods are most widely used. OARSI scoring is simpler and faster but requires expertise for consistent interpretation. Conclusion: In conclusion, selecting appropriate animal models and histological scoring systems is critical for OA research, depending on study goals and available resources.