Hyaline cartilage: in vivo and in vitro assessment with magnetization transfer imaging.
OBJECTIVE
To elucidate the magnetization transfer (MT) effects of major components of hyaline cartilage.


METHODS
The authors evaluated the MT effect of type II collagen and chondroitin sulfate phantoms (concentrations of 0.6%, 1.2%, 2.4%, 4.8%, 9.6%, and 19.2%), mass-cultured rat osteosarcoma-derived cells, and normal articular cartilage of the knee.


RESULTS
The MT effect of collagen yielded a decrease in signal intensity of 10% (1.2% collagen) to 31% (19.2% collagen); the decrease varied linearly with collagen concentration. Chondroitin sulfate did not have a statistically significant MT effect. Cell pellets showed a decrease in signal intensity of 22%-26%, which was greater than that of 4.8% collagen. Normal articular cartilage of the knees showed a decrease in signal intensity of 38%-48%.


CONCLUSIONS
The major role of collagen in MT contrast of hyaline cartilage was confirmed. In addition, a higher cellular contribution to the MT effect was also demonstrated.
Department of Radiology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Japan.
G S
GS
Seo
J
J
Aoki
H
H
Moriya
O
O
Karakida
S
S
Sone
H
H
Hidaka
T
T
Katsuyama
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000737:chemistry; D002417:Cattle; D002648:Child; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates / Q000032:analysis; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000737:chemistry; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D051381:Rats; D013552:Swine; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000737:chemistry
D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates; D003094:Collagen