Einfluß einer GAG-Peptid-haltigen Knorpelschutzsubstanz auf experimentell geschädigten Hühnerknorpel

Abstract The articular cartilage of healthy chickens (used as controls) and of chickens with biochemically induced arthrosis and of chickens treated with DAK-16 (GAG-peptide complex from Arumalon) was examined via transmission electron microscopy. The cartilaginous tissue in the knee of the chicken has a special structure on account of the load to which it is exposed. It consists of hyaline cartilage, fibrous cartilage and mixed forms of both types of tissue. The articulating joint surface which has to bear the load consists of hyaline cartilage, whereas those parts of the cartilage which are subjected to tensile forces consist of fibrous cartilage. In the hyaline cartilage, the chondrocytes are functionally active cells which are responsible for the high proteoglycane turnover (13 days in the articular joint of the chicken). Chondrocytes are much rarer in the fibrous cartilage. In addition, they are functionally inactive, since the proteoglycane content and hence proteoglycane synthesis in this tissue is at a low level. Arthrotic changes were induced in the articular cartilage of the chicken by means of intra-articular injection of the metabolic inhibitor monoiodine acetate. The electron microscope revealed a destruction of 95% of the chondrocytes. In contrast, only about 70% of the chondrocytes are destroyed if the same experiment is repeated with therapeutic administration of a substance with a protective effect on the cartilage containing a GAG-peptide complex. The surviving chondrocytes show high secretory activity. Metabolically speaking they are much more active than the chondrocytes in the cartilaginous tissue of untreated animals.The experiments conducted by the authors with chicken cartilage have shown that a protective action is exercised by a substance containing a GAG-peptide complex, on the chondrocytes and hence on the site of production of proteoglycanes and collagen fibres, even in case of severe chemical damage, and that over and above this, the secretory efficiency of the surviving chondrocytes is enhanced.