Changes in permeability of rabbit articular cartilage caused by joint contracture as revealed by the peroxidase method.

Changes in permeability of adult rabbit articular cartilage caused by joint contracture were studied by light and transmission electron microscopy, employing horseradish peroxidase (HRP) as an indicator. The knee joint was plaster-immobilized for 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8 weeks in the flexion position. One ml of 4% HRP was administered in the articular cavity of the knee joint and allowed to diffuse and permeate into the articular cartilage. Distribution of the permeated HRP was visualized in the cartilage taken from the lateral condyle of the femur, utilizing the DAB-H2O2 reaction. In the normal and the non-immobilized joints, the permeated HRP reached to the matrix and chondrocytes situated in the deep layer of the articular cartilage. HRP was heavily deposited in the intercellular matrices, particularly around the chondrocytes, and was actively endocytosed by these cells. In the plaster-immobilized joints, especially after 4 weeks or longer of immobilization, the administered HRP had not permeated well and was restricted to the surface (lamina splendens) and the superficial layer of the cartilage. These results show that administered HRP diffuses into the deep layer of the articular cartilage and is actively endocytosed by chondrocytes and that the permeability of articular cartilage is remarkably reduced by joint contracture.