Figure 5
Histological features of the ankle joint from adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) rats. (a) Tibia (Tib) astrogalus (Ast) joint from rat with saline injection illustrating extensive bone loss, inflammation, and cartilage erosion (arrows). (b) Same region from a P-Dex-treated animal showing intact articular cartilage with less subchondral bone erosion. (c) Higher-power photomicrograph of cancellous bone from a Dex-treated rat showing extensive osteoclastic (arrows) bone resorption. (d) Same region from a P-Dex-treated rat showing much less eroded bone compared to the Dex-treated rat (c). Dex, dexamethasone; P-Dex, N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide (HPMA) copolymer-dexamethasone conjugate.