title: Heterogeneity of proteoglycan particles in thin sections and replicas of human articular cartilage.
abstract: Proteoglycans were studied in articular cartilage of human femoral condyles. On the basis of the histochemical data obtained by means of light microscopy (AB + CEC MgCl2; pre-incubation with hyaluronidase or with chondroitinase ABC), the proteoglycan concentration as well as the keratan sulfate-chondroitin sulfate ratio seemed to increase proportionally to the articular cartilage depth. AB-proteoglycan particles of various shapes (filament-like or leaf-like) and sizes (10 nm or 16-18 nm), depending on the articular cartilage depth and on the histochemical conditions (as above), were visualized in thin sections. Similar heterogeneity of elongated non-collagen particles was shown in replicas of fresh freeze-fractured and deep-etched specimens. An interpretation of the distribution and nature of articular cartilage proteoglycans was made by comparing the obtained morphological findings.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000166:cytology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D011509:Proteoglycans