The influence of the pH value of the synovial fluid on the articular cartilage in rabbits. A scanning electron microscopic study.
After the intraarticular injection of isoosmolaric buffer solutions with pH values of 4.0 and 10.0 or 7.3 (control side) into the knee joints of rabbits the appearance of a fibrillated network on a plane parallel to the surface and tears in the articular cartilage are seen with the aid of scanning electron microscopy. The results are interpreted as a damage of the superficial layer of the articular cartilage. In a long-term follow up only the growing rabbits are able to repair these lesions, the adult animals are not capable to do it.
D000818:Animals; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011817:Rabbits; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors