A-D: hematoxylin and eosin-staining (×100); A: control group; B: model group; C: EA group; D: acupotomy group; E: Mankin score of the control, model, EA and acupotomy groups. F, G: quantitative analysis for TAC thickness and the ratio of ACC/TAC. Control group: without any treatments and model establishment; model group: treated without acupotomy or electroacupuncture but joined model establishment; Apo (acupotomy group: treated only with acupotomy and joined model establishment; EA (electroacupuncture group): treated only with electroacupuncture and joined model establishment. Data represents mean ± standard deviation (n = 6). Compared with the control group, aP < 0.01, eP < 0.05; compared with the model group, bP < 0.01, dP < 0.05; compared with the EA group, cP < 0.05. Hematoxylin-eosin staining cartilage calcified cartilage (ACC) and total articular cartilage (TAC) thickness are marked by double-headed arrows.