[Proteoglycan and glycosaminoglycan from human femoral head cartilage].

The composition and the size of proteoglycans (PGs) and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) from femoral head cartilage of different age were determined by caesium chloride density gradient centrifugation, sepharose chromatography and chemical analysis. The results showed that the size of PG subunits from articular cartilage decreases with increasing age. In PGs and GAGs from cartilage, uronic acid and galactosamine content decreased; the ratio of in keratin sulphate to chondroitin sulphate increased; glucosamine and hydroxyproline content decreased with age The cause of degenerative changes and the measures to prevent and treat them are discussed.