Remodelling in immature hyaline cartilage: changes in matrix dry mass
Matthews, J.G.; Goldstein, D.J.
Journal of Anatomy 124(Pt 1): 165-177
1977
ISSN/ISBN: 0021-8782 PMID: 914700 Document Number: 115435
Scanning microinterferometry was used to measure the dry mass of cell-free matrix in normal and surgically damaged immature cartilage. The tissue was obtained from the patellae of immature New Zealand white rabbits 4-9 wk old and the quantitative changes observed over a 3 wk period after surgery. During this period extracellular solids in unoperated cartilage rose from 23% to 29% wt/v, while water content fell from 83% to 78% wt/v. Close to the surgical lesion a rapid loss of matrix dry mass, interpreted as a relative loss of proteoglycan, extended up to 200 .mu.m from the lesion edge. A rapid recovery of dry mass restored normal values within 3 wk. The affected zone at this time contained characteristic clusters of cells, presumably the result of a burst of disordered proliferative activity, which were probably the source of the replaced matrix solids.