The effect of osteotomy and cartilage damage on mitotic activity. An experimental study in rabbits.

In 15 rabbits, osteotomy and osteotomy including cartilage damage were performed. With autoradiography (3H-thymidine) it was shown that only one knee in the osteotomy group had labeled chondrocytes in the tibial cartilage. In the knees with articular damage, labeled chondrocytes were found in the femur as well, which could be the result of a factor liberated from the damaged cartilage, a factor stimulating mitotic activity.