Hyaluronate synthesis by synovial villi in organ culture.

Individual canine synovial villi were used to establish short-term synovial organ cultures. These villi incorporated 3H-glucosamine into highly-polymerized 3H-hyaluronic acid (3H-HA), which was the only 3H-glycosaminoglycan identified in the culture medium. Some 3H-HA, and larger amounts of other 3H-glycosaminoglycans, were recovered from cultured tissues. Culture medium 3H-HA content was proportional to the surface area of cultured villi. Organ cultures of nonvillous synovium were compared with villi; nonvillous cultures synthesized less 3H-HA per mm2 of their synovial intimal surface than villi. These cultures complement cell culture techniques for in vitro studies of synovial lining cell function.