Effects of intraarticular hyaluronan on matrix changes induced in the lateral meniscus by total medial meniscectomy and exercise.
Total medial meniscectomy was performed in 12 adult merino sheep. Immediately after surgery, 8 animals received high-molecular-weight hyaluronan (HA) (1 mL, 10 mg/mL) and 4 were given sterile saline (1 mL) intraarticularly. Injections were given for 5 more weeks. In week 3 an exercise program, consisting of walking 24 km/wk, was initiated. This program was continued until the animals were killed at week 26 postmeniscectomy. At necropsy the lateral menisci were removed and divided into three concentric zones--inner, middle, and outer. Powdered aliquots of tissues from each zone were analyzed for collagen and hexuronate contents using colormetric methods. The glycosaminoglycans (GAGs)--chondroitin-O-sulfate (C-O-S), chondroitin-4-sulfate (C-4-S), chondroitin-6-sulfate (C-6-S), and dermatan sulfate (DS)--were determined using a high-performance liquid chromatography method. The lateral menisci from the joints of animals injected with HA showed higher hexuronate and GAG levels than those of controls. This increase was mainly due to C-6-S, which had highest levels in the inner and middle meniscal zones. In addition, dermatan sulfate levels increased significantly in the middle and outer zones of the lateral menisci compared with the same zones of the meniscus from the saline-treated group. Collagen and C-O-S levels were not statistically different from those of controls. These data suggest that intraarticular administration of high-molecular-weight HA immediately after open total medial meniscectomy may help preserve the proteoglycans in the lateral meniscus remaining in the joint.
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Raymond Purves Bone and Joint Research Laboratories (University of Sydney), Royal North Shore Hospital of Sydney, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia.
Ghosh
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Taylor
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Sun
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Read
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D000818:Animals; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000032:analysis*; D006603:Hexuronic Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007270:Injections, Intra-Articular; D008297:Male; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000601:surgery; D008954:Models, Biological; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal; D012756:Sheep
D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D003094:Collagen