EFFECT OF JOINT IMMOBILIZATION ON POSTNATAL DEVELOPMENT OF CHONDROCYTES IN RAT KNEE JOINTS

概要

論文の詳細を見る
It is generally accepted that immobilization of normal joints for a period of time causes the degenerative changes in the articular cartilage of mature and immature joints. We studied the alteration of cartilage in the rat knee joint between day 20 and 30 after birth by using light and electron microscopy. Twenty day-old Wistar strain male rats were used in this study. The rats were divided into two groups ; those receiving immobilization and controls. In the immobilization group, the right knees of 20 day-old rats were fixed in extended position with a rigid fiberglass cast. After immobilization for five days, these rats were killed and the right knee joints were observed. In the control group, rats aged 20,25 and 30 days were killed and the right knee joints were observed. The articular cartilage in the immobilization group showed increased cellular population, and there were flattened or elliptical shaped cells with insufficient cytoplasm. Atypical cells were found in the most superficial area of the cartilage. Their cytoplasm partly projected from the articular surface and they had some circular mitochondria with preserved cristae and some slightly dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum. Their configurations suggested active movement up through the superficial zone to the articular surface. We believe these phenomena are the survival reactions of immature articular cartilage under abnormal conditions.
名古屋市立大学の論文
2002-03-25