[Induction of arthritis in healthy knee joints after intra-articular injection of the proteolytic enzyme elastase - An experimental investigation in the rabbit].
OBJECTIVE
Humoral aspects are being discussed in the initiation of arthritis. Therefore, the effects of the proteolytic enzyme elastase on the cartilage of knee joints in rabbits have been investigated. The enzyme was evaluated using activities comparable to those in post-traumatic knee joint hemarthrosis in humans.


METHODS
Polymorphonuclear leukocyte elastase was injected into one of the knee joints of 10 rabbits. In 5 animals (first study group), joints were then immobilized with a cast for 6 weeks. In the other 5 (second study group), no immobilization was applied. In the first zero group (2 animals), 0.9 % NaCl was injected intra-articularly without immobilization, whereas in the second zero group (2 anmals) knees were immobilized for 6 weeks without prior injection. Thus, the effect of immobilization could be evaluated additionally. Joint specimens were then examined histologically and electron microscopically.


RESULTS
There was clear evidence of elastase having severe destructive effects on cartilage regardless of additional joint-immobilization. In neither zero group was there prearthritic damage to the cartilage.


CONCLUSIONS
To prevent the initiation of cartilage damage by humoral factors, early elimination of the pathological intra-articular effusion is necessary.
Blattert
T R
TR
Unfall- und Wiederherstellungschirurgie, Chirurgische Universitätsklinik und Poliklinik derJulius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Germany. blatterhirurgie.uni-wuerzburg.de
Kunz
E
E
Müller
J
J
Weckbach
A
A
D000818:Animals; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D007270:Injections, Intra-Articular; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase / Q000633:toxicity*; D011817:Rabbits
D010196:Pancreatic Elastase