AbstractObjectiveTo characterize the clinical and histopathologic changes in a rat model of broad‐spectrum matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)–induced musculoskeletal syndrome (MSS), and to facilitate research into the causes and treatments of MSS in humans.MethodsMale Lewis rats weighing 150–180 gm were administered 10–30 mg of the broad‐spectrum MMP inhibitor marimastat over a 2‐week period via surgically implanted subcutaneous osmotic pumps. The animals were monitored and scored for the onset and severity of MSS, using clinical and histologic parameters.ResultsMarimastat‐treated rats exhibited various clinical signs, including compromised ability to rest on their hind feet, high‐stepping gait, reluctance or inability to move, and hind paw swelling. Histologically, marimastat‐treated rat joints were characterized by soft tissue and bone changes, such as increased epiphyseal growth plate, synovial hyperplasia, and increased cellularity in the joint capsule and extracapsular ligaments. The severity of MSS, as judged by clinical criteria (2 blinded observers using 3 clinical parameters), paw volume, and histologic score, was nearly identical. The observed changes were indistinguishable from those reported for primate models and mimic MSS in humans.ConclusionThis simple and sensitive model of MSS is an attractive alternative for studying the pathology of MSS.