The organ culture of adult human articular cartilage, from patients with osteoarthrosis.

Adult human articular cartilage has been maintained in organ culture for three days. The uptake of 35SO4 has been studied over a 48-hour period. The incorporation of 35SO4 was significantly increased in osteoarthrotic cartilage compared to normal cartilage from the same joints. The uronic acid content of the osteoarthrotic cartilage was significantly reduced which reflects the proteoglycan loss in the diseased tissue. The DNA content, which is an indirect measurement of the cell population, was not significantly different in the diseased and normal cartilage.