Induced lesion and inhibited Ihh-PTHrP signalling pathway activity in the articular cartilage of rats caused by T-2 toxin

This study aims to investigate the role of Ihh-PTHrP signalling pathway in the articular cartilage injury of rats caused by T-2 toxin. Sixty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: group A, normal diet; group B, normal diet plus the dissolvent (0.9% sodium chloride sterile aqueous solution containing ethanol); group C, normal diet plus low T-2 toxin (0.1 mg/kg BW/day) and group D, normal diet plus high T-2 toxin (0.2 mg/kg BW/day) by intragastric administration daily for 4 weeks. Histological changes in articular cartilage were assessed by HE staining and scanning electron microscopy. The expression of Ihh and PTHrP in cartilage was assessed by immunohistochemistry. There is a significant difference in average weight gain between group A and group D P < 0.01, groups A and D P < 0.001, respectively. The result of scanning electron microscopy and HE staining showed that the damage of articular cartilage was much severe with the increase of T-2 toxin. Immunohistochemical analysis indicated that the expression of Ihh in group A and group B was higher than that of group C and group D (P < 0.05, < 0.01, respectively). However, the expression of PTHrP was lower in group A and group B than that of group C and group D (P < 0.001, < 0.001, respectively). These results indicated that T-2 toxin can cause the damage to articular cartilage and weight loss in rats. The effect of T-2 toxin on articular cartilage of rat may be related to the Ihh-PTHrP pathway.