OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the treatment effect of acupotomy (Apo) in a rabbit model of knee osteoarthritis (KOA),compare the results of Apo versus electroacupuncture (E-Apu) on ethology,morphology,and structure of the articular cartilage surface in a rabbit model of KOA,and analyze the differences in the treatment effects of Apo versus E-Apu.METHODS:Twenty-eight male New Zealand white rabbits were randomized into four groups:normal control,blank model,Apo,and E-Apu (n =7 in each group).Except for the normal control group,the left hindlegs of all rabbits were fixed in an extended position for 5 weeks to establish the KOA model.The passive range of motion (PROM) and Lequesne index were measured before and after the establishment of the KOA model to assess the ethology in all groups.Safranin O-fast green staining and the Mankin score were used to assess the morphological cartilaginous changes to compare the effect of Apo versus E-Apu on the degeneration of articular cartilage,and to identify which therapy was superior in treating KOA.RESULTS:Compared with before the establishment of the KOA model,the Lequesne index of the KOA model rabbits was significantly increased (P ＜ 0.01),while the PROM was significantly decreased (P ＜ 0.01).The articular cartilaginous tissue in the three model groups exhibited pathological variations in the form of laminar derangement of cartilage cells,and so the Mankin score was significantly increased compared with the control group (P ＜ 0.01).At 1 week after the final treatment session,compared with the blank model group,both the Apo and E-Apu groups showed a significant decrease in the Lequesne index (P ＜ 0.01),and attenuation in the degree of morphologic pathological changes (P ＜ 0.05);The Apo improved the PROM significantly compared with the blank model group (P ＜ 0.05),while the E-Apu had no effect (P ＞ 0.05).Furthermore,compared with the E-Apu group,the Apo group had a significantly lower Lequesne index (P ＜ 0.05),and a significantly greater PROM (P ＜ 0.05).CONCLUSION:In a rabbit model of KOA,both Apo and E-Apu reduce disorders of ethology and morphology,and improve the condition of the articular cartilage.The results suggest that Apo is more effective than E-Apu in improving the PROM and alleviating symptoms resulting from cartilage damage in a rabbit model of KOA.