Background Quantitative T2 mapping has been a widely used method for the evaluation of pathological cartilage properties,and the histological assessment system of osteoarthritis in the rabbit has been published recently.The aim of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of quantitative T2 mapping evaluation for articular cartilage lesions of a rabbit model of anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) osteoarthritis.Methods Twenty New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits were divided into ACLT surgical group and sham operated group equally.The anterior cruciate ligaments of the rabbits in ACLT group were transected,while the joints were closed intactly in sham operated group.Magnetic resonance (MR) examinations were performed on 3.0T MR unit at week 0,week 6,and week 12.T2 values were computed on GE ADW4.3 workstation.All rabbits were killed at week 13,and left knees were stained with Haematoxylin and Eosin.Semiquantitative histological grading was obtained according to the osteoarthritis cartilage histopathology assessment system.Computerized image analysis was performed to quantitate the immunostained collagen type Ⅱ.Results The average MR T2 value of whole left knee cartilage in ACLT surgical group ((29.05±12.01) ms) was significantly higher than that in sham operated group ((24.52±7.97) ms) (P=0.024) at week 6.The average T2 value increased to (32.18±12.79) ms in ACLT group at week 12,but remained near the baseline level ((27.66±8.08) ms) in the sham operated group (P=0.03).The cartilage lesion level of left knee in ACLT group was significantly increased at week 6 (P=0.005) and week 12 (P ＜0.001).T2 values had positive correlation with histological grading scores,but inverse correlation with optical densities (OD) of type Ⅱ collagen.Conclusion This study demonstrated the reliability and practicability of quantitative T2 mapping for the cartilage injury of rabbit ACLT osteoarthritis model.