Ogata K, Whiteside L A, Lesker P A
J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1978 Oct;60(7):905-10.
The route of nutrients going to articular cartilage was studied by determining the diffusion of hydrogen molecules from the subchondral circulation to the articular cartilage in rabbits. In all immature animals there was diffusion of hydrogen from subchondral bone into articular cartilage, while in the older immature animals the results were variable. None of the mature animals showed any diffusion of hydrogen into articular cartilage. The rate of diffusion of hydrogen was significantly lower in the articular cartilage than in the subchondral bone in the immature animals while the concentrations of hydrogen in the articular cartilage were only fractions of those in the subchondral bone at the same instant. Histologically, the deep layers of immature cartilage are penetrated extensively by vascular buds from the ossified portion of the epiphysis, while in adults the articular cartilage is separated from subchondral vascular spaces by an end-plate of bone. Blood vessels penetrating into the basilar layer of articular cartilage in immature animals appear to play an important role in the nutrition of articular cartilage coming from the subchondral region.
通过测定兔软骨下循环中氢分子向关节软骨的扩散，研究了营养物质进入关节软骨的途径。在所有未成熟动物中，氢从软骨下骨扩散到关节软骨，而在年龄稍大的未成熟动物中，结果则各不相同。所有成熟动物均未显示氢向关节软骨的扩散。在未成熟动物中，氢在关节软骨中的扩散速率显著低于软骨下骨，而在同一时刻，关节软骨中的氢浓度仅为软骨下骨中氢浓度的几分之一。组织学上，未成熟软骨的深层被来自骨骺骨化部分的血管芽广泛穿透，而在成体中，关节软骨通过骨终板与软骨下血管间隙分隔开。未成熟动物中穿透进入关节软骨基底层的血管似乎在来自软骨下区域的关节软骨营养中起重要作用。
