title: An equine joint friction test model using a cartilage-on-cartilage arrangement.
abstract: This study describes an equine joint friction test using a cartilage-on-cartilage arrangement and investigates the influence of age and load on the frictional response. Osteochondral plugs were extracted from equine shoulder joints (2-5 years, n=12; 10-14 years, n=15), and mounted in a pin-on-disc tribometer. The frictional response was then measured under constant conditions (2N; 20 degrees C; 5 mm/s), and with increasing load (2N, 5N, 10N). In all experiments, the friction coefficient of young cartilage was significantly (P<0.001) smaller than obtained from old cartilage, while the application of a greater load resulted in a significant (P<0.001) decrease in friction coefficient only in old cartilage. It was concluded that cartilage ageing was responsible for an increase in friction coefficient under these experimental conditions. Moreover, where young cartilage lubrication remained stable, cartilage ageing may have been responsible for lubrication regime change. The cartilage-on-cartilage model could be used to better understand lubrication regime disturbances in healthy and diseased equine joints, and to test the efficacy of various bio-lubricant treatments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Liège University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Boulevard de Colonster, 20, B43, B-4000 Liège, Belgium. pnoble@ulg.ac.be
authors.forename: Prisca
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Noble
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Collin
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lecomte-Beckers
authors.forename: Adrien
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Magnée
authors.forename: Jean M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Denoix
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Serteyn
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D017276:Friction; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000628:therapy; D006736:Horses / Q000502:physiology*; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000502:physiology; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology