title: The effect of environmental pH change on bovine articular cartilage metabolism: implications for the use of buffered solution during arthroscopy?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study is to determine the immediate effects of pH change on the metabolism of bovine chondrocytes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Bovine osteochondral explants were pre-cultured and placed in Ringer's lactate solution. Thirty explants were randomly divided into 3 groups. Buffered Ringer's lactate, pH 7.2, was used in Group I; buffered Ringer's lactate, pH 7.4 (normal bovine knee joint pH), was used in Group II; and this group was also set as the control group. Buffered Ringer's lactate, pH 7.6, was used in Group III. All specimens were soaked for 2 h. RNA yield analyses were performed to evaluate the changes in cartilage metabolism at different pH levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean RNA yields of (hypoxia-induced factor) 1α that were immersed at pH 7.2 and 7.6 were 10.5- and 9.9-fold from base, respectively, which were lower compared to explants at pH 7.4 which was found as 15.2-fold. Mean RNA yields of aggrecan that were immersed at pH 7.2 and 7.6 were 12.2- and 13.6-fold from base, respectively, which were lower compared to explants at pH 7.4 which was found as 20-fold. RNA yields of collagen type II at pH 7.2 and 7.6 were 16.1- and 16.6-fold from base, respectively, which were lower compared to explants immersed at pH 7.4 which was found as 22.1-fold.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of the presented study suggest that short-term exposures to both acidic and basic pH may have effects on chondrocyte function. Our findings also indicate that exposures to solutions with a pH different from normal by only 0.2 unit could suppress chondrocyte metabolism and RNA synthesis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using buffered irrigation solutions with a pH closer to the normal joint pH could be more physiologic and causes less ultra-structural damage than regular irrigation solutions.
  
  
  METHODS
  II.
authors: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine Acibadem University, Soyak Evreka, A blok, D:43 Soganlik, Kartal, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: Umut
authors: U
authors: Akgun
authors: Baris
authors: B
authors: Kocaoglu
authors: Selim
authors: S
authors: Ergun
authors: Mustafa
authors: M
authors: Karahan
authors: Metin
authors: M
authors: Turkmen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001182:Arthroscopy; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000378:metabolism*; D002417:Cattle; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007552:Isotonic Solutions / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000378:metabolism; D011897:Random Allocation; D000077325:Ringer's Lactate
chemical_list: D007552:Isotonic Solutions; D000077325:Ringer's Lactate
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