Abstract: ObjectiveTo observe protective effect of collagen-Ⅱ on articular cartilage damage induced by T-2 toxin in rats, and to provide a theoretical basis for the control of articular cartilage damage.MethodsForty Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups(10 rats in each group):blank group(fed with standard rat chow),T-2-toxin exposed group(with T-2-toxin of 100 ng/kg),collagen-II exposed group(with collagen-II of 0.5 and 5.0 g/L).After the treatment of 5 months,the articular cartilage was observed with light microscope and the content of serum C-telopeptide of type Ⅱ collagen(CTX-Ⅱ) and cartilage oligomeric matrix protein(COMP) and urinary deoxypyridinoline(DPD) were determined with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) kits.ResultsDisarrangement,degeneration,and necrosis of articular chondrocytes were observed in the rats of T-2-toxin exposed group; early pathological changes of osteoarthritis(fibril formation,swelling of chondrocytes on the cartilage surface,and cluster of chondrocytes) were observed in the rats of the two collagen-II exposed groups.The levels of serum CTX-Ⅱ,COMP,and urinary DPD were 25.07±9.17,6.38±2.23,and 4.14±1.06 μg/L for the blank group,39.17±10.49,24.52±4.26,and 4.33±3.43μg/L for T-2-toxin group,29.73±9.32,19.44±4.92,and 4.23±2.90μg/L for 0.5 g/L collagen-II group,and 33.20±9.74,20.32±4.74,and 5.72±3.89 μg/L for 5.0 g/L collagen-II group,repectively.Compared with the blank group, the levels of serum CTX-Ⅱ and COMP in the T-2-toxin exposed group increased markedly, with a signigicant difference(P<0.05),and the levels of urinary DPD did not increase significantly.Compared with the model group,the levels of serum CTX-Ⅱ and COMP in the two collagen-II exposed groups decreased markedly, with a signigicant difference(P<0.05),and the level of urinary DPD did not increase significantly.ConclusionCollagen-Ⅱ could effectively delay the process of articular cartilage damage induced by T-2 toxin in rats and the mechanism may be related to the reduced CTX -Ⅱ and COMP in serum.