HISTOLOGICAL AND MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES IN THE SYNOVIAL MEMBRANE IN EXPERIMENTAL MODELS OF OSTEOARTHRITIS

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a leading cause of disability globally, affecting over 500 million individuals and imposing substantial socioeconomic burdens. The synovial membrane, integral to joint function, undergoes critical histological and morphological transformations that perpetuate OA pathology. This study delineates these changes in experimental rodent models, employing advanced histological, immunohistochemical, and morphometric techniques to achieve high scientific rigor. Induction via monoiodoacetate (MIA) or anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) revealed temporal progression: early synovitis with inflammatory infiltration, mid-stage hyperplasia and angiogenesis, and late fibrosis with pannus formation. Quantitative metrics, including synovial thickness (up to 3.75-fold increase) and fibrosis scores (peaking at 2.5), were statistically validated (p