Hyaluronan reduces fluid escape rate from rabbit knee joints disparately from its effect on fluidity.
The effect of hyaluronan, the major viscous component of synovial fluid, on trans-synovial flow was measured in rabbit knees. Hyaluronan reduced fluid escape rate by up to 45%. This was much less than the reduction in intra-articular fluidity (1/viscosity). Electron micrographs supported the view that hyaluronan might be partially reflected by synovium, creating a molecular filtercake at the surface.
Department of Physiology, St George's Hospital Medical School, London.
J N
JN
McDonald
J R
JR
Levick
D000818:Animals; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000502:physiology*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D011817:Rabbits; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000502:physiology*; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013997:Time Factors
D006820:Hyaluronic Acid