[The dose dependent effect of glycosaminoglycan peptide complex on corticosteroid-induced disordered metabolism in cartilage tissue of rats].

Systemic corticosteroid treatment induces morphological and functional changes in the articular cartilage similar to those in human osteoarthritis. In animal experiments the dexamethasone-induced inhibition of chondrocyte metabolism can be reduced in a dose-related manner by concomitant treatment with glycosaminoglycan-peptide complexes (GP-C)***). The metabolic changes in cartilage tissues of the joint and Processus Xiphoideus measured quantitatively by 35S-sulphate incorporation are comparable. The results indicate that GP-C could also have a dose-related effect on human osteoarthritic cartilage.