In vitro repair potential of articular cartilage: proteoglycan metabolism in the different areas of the femoral condyles in human cartilage explants.
We tested the hypothesis that metabolism of individual cartilage samples, such as those which might be taken at arthroscopy, could reflect the overall intrinsic reparative response of the cartilaginous tissue of that joint. Full thickness samples of articular cartilage, removed from the anteromedial, anterolateral and posterolateral areas of the femoral condyles of 2 normal knees, were placed in tissue culture separately. The incorporation of 14C-glucosamine into matrix molecules, especially proteoglycan, was measured. Three slices of each area were removed after one, 3 or 6 weeks of in vitro culture. The extracted matrix molecules and the media were analyzed and the relative amount of radioactive proteoglycan and proteoglycan aggregates, as well as the total amount of radiolabelled proteoglycan/mg dry weight, were calculated. A progressive increase in these variables during the culture period was demonstrated, suggesting an attempt at repair of the articular cartilage in this in vitro condition. No differences in the incorporation dynamics were found between the anteromedial, anterolateral and posterolateral areas of both subjects.
D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D003470:Culture Media; D046508:Culture Techniques; D005269:Femur / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000378:metabolism*; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014357:Trypsin / Q000494:pharmacology
D003470:Culture Media; D011509:Proteoglycans; D014357:Trypsin