Influence of adjuvant arthritis on connective-tissue metabolism.

In rats with adjuvant arthritis, an analysis was made of the metabolism of sulfated proteoglycans, with particular attention to the dorsal skin and the extremities. Alterations were demonstrated in all the tissues examined. In the uninflamed dorsal skin, the uptake of exogenous sulfate was diminished. By contrast, in both hind limbs, at the injected and the non-injected site, the turnover of sulfated mucopolysaccharides was increased, above all in ligament and cartilage; the calcium content of the bone tissue of both hind legs was, however, not affected by the disease.