Histopathological findings of S. aureus-inoculated rabbit jointson the7 th day post inoculation
Lane 1 showing group 2 with degenerative changes with fibrillation within the cartilage of articular surfaces (curved arrow) with pannus formation (arrow) (5X), lane 2 showing septic synovitis formed from aggregates of inflammatory exudates (10X), lane 3 showing aggregation of neutrophils (arrowhead) intermixed with fibrin exudates within synovium (40X). Lanes 4 and 5 showing group 4 with restoration of all zones of chondrocytes at articular surfaces with hypertrophied chondrocytes (arrowhead) beside presence of moderate synovitis with cellular proliferation and exudation in the synovium within the joint cavity (arrow) (5, 10X). Lanes 6 and 7 showing group 5 with reduction of synovitis area within the joint cavity (arrow) and hypercellularity of the articular surfaces with reactive chondrocytes (arrowhead) (H&E staining) (10, 40X).