title: Chemical changes of human knee joint menisci in various stages of degeneration.
abstract: Human knee joint menisci graded according to degenerative alterations were submitted to chemical analysis. Normal menisci contained 72% water, 0.12% DNA, 22% collagen, and 0.8% total glycosaminoglycans with the following glycosaminoglycan distribution pattern: 40% chondroitin 6-sulphate, 10-20% chondroitin 4-sulphate, 20-30% dermatan sulphate, and 15% keratan sulphate. The water content increased with increasing degeneration, whereas the collagen and glycosaminoglycan contents decreased with relative increase of chondroitin 6-sulphate.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001834:Body Water / Q000032:analysis; D002357:Cartilage Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000032:analysis* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000032:analysis* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D003094:Collagen; D004247:DNA