title: Morpho-tribo-mechanical characteristics of the articular cartilage in animals under conditions of hypokinesis.
abstract: The influence of activity upon the structure and properties of articular cartilage has been examined in two populations of fur-bearing animals. Morphological changes in cartilage of the caged animals were noted. Friction was mentioned in a vibrotribometer and it was noted that the caged animals exhibited a lower friction coefficient than the free-moving animals. In both cases the friction initially increased with age, reaching a maximum after about three years. It is concluded that prolonged hypokinesis associated with a cage-breeding regime acts like a mechanical stress factor which stimulates the development of degenerative changes in cartilage.
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Academy, Central Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedics, Moscow, Russia.
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Slesarenko
authors.forename: T O
authors.initials: TO
authors.lastname: el-Mahdy
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Gavrjushenko
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D000830:Animals, Laboratory; D000835:Animals, Wild; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005589:Foxes; D017276:Friction; D007698:Kinesis / Q000502:physiology; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical