Effects of an in vivo D-penicillamine treatment on glycosaminoglycan biosynthesis by synovial fibroblasts from arthritic-rendered rabbits.

Arthritic-rendered rabbits were treated in vivo with 50 mg/kg D-penicillamine (D-Pen) daily during 4 months. Glycosaminoglycan (GAG) synthesis by synovial fibroblast cultures from D-Pen treated and untreated normal or arthritic animals was studied. Cells from arthritic-rendered animals synthesized hyaluronic acid (HA) at the same rate as cells isolated from control rabbits. When D-Pen was administered to arthritic-rendered rabbits, it significantly inhibited GAG production by fibroblasts. The hyaluronate synthetase activity determined on synovial fibroblast homogenates, however, was not modified whatever the treatment undergone by the rabbits. Moreover, synovial fibroblasts from arthritic rabbits treated or not with D-Pen generally synthesized HA with a high molecular weight similar to that produced by D-Pen treated or untreated control animals.