Metabolic recovery of articular cartilage after intra-articular injections of glucocorticoid
Behrens, F.; Shepard, N.; Mitchell, N.
Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. American Volume 58(8): 1157-1160
1976
ISSN/ISBN: 0021-9355 PMID: 1002762 Document Number: 108609
The recovery of adult rabbit articular cartilage after nine weekly intra-articular injections of hydrocortisone acetate was investigated using biochemical, autoradiographic, and tracer methods. After the cessation of steroid injections, the rates of synthesis of proteoglycans and collagen increased by up to 900 per cent. The increase occurred because of accelerated metabolism of existing cells and an increase (caused by mitosis) in the number of functioning chondrocytes. The proteoglycan concentration only returned to normal values after six months.