Morpho-tribo-mechanical characteristics of the articular cartilage in animals under conditions of hypokinesis.
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.
Slesarenko
N A
NA
Veterinary Academy, Central Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedics, Moscow, Russia.
el-Mahdy
T O
TO
Gavrjushenko
N S
NS
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