Extended reports
Articular cartilage superficial zone collagen birefringence
reduced and cartilage thickness increased before surface fibrillation
in experimental osteoarthritis
a Department of Surgery, b and
Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Kuopio University Hospital,
Finland, c Department of Anatomy, d and Laboratory of Electron Microscopy, University
of Kuopio, Finland, e Department of Surgery,
Jyväskylä Central Hospital, Finland
Correspondence to: Dr H E Panula, Neulaskuja 1, 60510 Nurmo, Finland.
Accepted for publication 11 February 1998
OBJECTIVES
To investigate articular cartilage
collagen network, thickness of birefringent cartilage zones, and
glycosaminoglycan concentration in macroscopically normal
looking knee joint cartilage of young beagles subjected to experimental
slowly progressive osteoarthritis (OA).
METHODSOA was induced by a tibial 30° valgus
osteotomy in 15 female beagles at the age of 3 months. Fifteen sisters
were controls. Cartilage specimens were collected seven (Group 1) and
18 months (Group 2) postoperatively. Collagen induced optical path
difference and cartilage zone thickness measurements were determined
from histological sections of articular cartilage with smooth and
intact surface by computer assisted quantitative polarised light
microscopy. Volume density of cartilage collagen fibrils was determined
by image analysis from transmission electron micrographs and content of
glycosaminoglycans by quantitative digital densitometry from histological sections.
ResultsIn the superficial zone of the
lateral tibial and femoral cartilage, the collagen induced optical path
difference (birefringence) decreased by 19 to 71% (p < 0.05) seven
months postoperatively. This suggests that severe superficial collagen fibril network deterioration took place, as 18 months postoperatively, macroscopic and microscopic OA was present in many cartilage areas. Thickness of the uncalcified cartilage increased while the superficial zone became thinner in the same sites. In operated dogs,
glycosaminoglycan content first increased (Group 1) in the lateral
tibial condyle and then decreased (Group 2) (p < 0.05).
ConclusionIn this OA model, derangement of
the superficial zone collagen network was the probable reason for
birefringence reduction. This change occurred well before macroscopic OA.
© 1998 by Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
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