Cartilage collagen in osteoarthrosis.

Pronase digestion of osteoarthrotic cartilage collagen indicated that this type of pathological collagenous structure is more susceptible to proteolytic degradation than human controls or bovine and calf articular cartilage. There were some differences between individual patients in the collagen susceptibility to pronase cleavage. Also, different zones of the same diseased femoral head exhibited varied susceptibility. It is suggested that changes in collagen stability are reflected in cartilage permeability and in this way also in alterations in the supply of nutrients.