Intra-articular injection of high-molecular hyaluronic acid. An experimental study on normal adult rabbit knee joints.
High-molecular hyaluronic acid was injected repeatedly into normal knee joints of adult rabbits. Histologically the articular cartilage was not affected by this treatment. The content of chondroitin sulphate, assessed by a histochemical method, was not altered and neither was the water content of the hyaline articular cartilage. On the other hand, in the synovial membrane of joints treated with hyaluronic acid a diffuse infiltration of plasma cells and lymphocytes was observed, indicating that the hyaluronic acid administered exerts its action via the synovial membrane.
D000818:Animals; D001834:Body Water / Q000032:analysis; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates / Q000378:metabolism; D005552:Forelimb; D006614:Hindlimb; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D007270:Injections, Intra-Articular; D007596:Joints / Q000187:drug effects*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D011817:Rabbits; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates