Effect of cartilage bone marrow extract on the metabolism of collagen in osteoarthrotic cartilage.

The effect of cartilage bone marrow extract (CBME) on the metabolism of collagen and proteoglycan in crude embryo and human cartilage was investigated. While in chick embryos' articular cartilages the increased levels of radioactivity in collagen and proteoglycan were observed, in normal human cartilage only slight changes were detected. In osteoarthrotic cartilages, however, a marked increase in radioactivity was found in collagen and in the proteoglycan fraction containing the glycoprotein link. A blockade of collagenolysis by CBME treatment is suggested.