The effect of alpha-2 macroglobulin on the healing of ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in rabbits

Abstract

To investigate the effect of modification of biological environmental conditions, one of the factors influencing the healing of anterior cruciate ligament rupture, we performed experimental anterior cruciate ligament ruptures on New Zealand rabbits. After experimental rupture, intra-articular alpha-2 macroglobulin was injected into the knees of the rabbits in the experiment group to prevent structural changes resulting from the enzymatic reactions in the ruptured anterior cruciate ligament. At the end of 10th day of the experiment, we observed that the anterior cruciate ligaments in the experiment group had retained their prerupture brightness and volume when compared with the control group in which intra-articular alpha-2 macroglobulin had not been injected. We also noted that the anterior cruciate ligaments in the experiment group had not retracted or swollen, the incision sites were regular and clean, and they did not show any signs of degeneration. In the histological examination, the anterior cruciate ligaments in the control groups showed disruption of the collagen network and a significant diminution in number of fibroblasts and fibrocytes (p < .001). At the end of this study, we concluded that the necessary conditions for the healing and repair of ruptured anterior cruciate ligament could exist if the enzymatic and biological environments were under control.