Figure 4

Representative sagittal plane histological images of the medial aspect of injured and uninjured knees from vehicle (VEH) and high-dose alendronate (ALN-H) groups at 14 and 56 days post-injury. ALN-H treatment was able to partially preserve articular cartilage at 14 days post-injury, but was not able to affect joint degeneration at day 56. By 7 to 14 days after injury, fibrous formations are evident on the anterior-medial femur and posterior-medial tibia in injured joints, with additional fibrous tissue formation from the menisci. By 56 days post-injury, these fibrous formations have mineralized into osteophytes, and articular cartilage is completely worn away from the posterior surface of the tibia and the articulating surface of the femur. ALN-L, low-dose alendronate; OARSI, Osteoarthritis Research Society International.