Glycosaminoglycan content and cell density of rabbit articular cartilage in experimental lipoarthrosis.

Glycosaminoglycan content and cell density of articular cartilage have been studied quantitatively in the adult rabbit in experimental lipoarthrosis. On the fourth day after injection of non-radioactive or tritium-labelled glyceryl trioleate into the synovial cavity of the knee joint, femoral condylar cartilage shows no change in cellularity. There is a 35% loss of chondroitin sulphate from the matrix, but little change in keratansulphate. The results are not affected by the presence or absence of radioactive isotope in the lipid: possible mechanisms accounting for glycosaminoglycan loss are discussed.