PROTEOGLYCAN FRAGMENTS IN RABBIT JOINT FLUID CORRELATED TO ARTHROSIS STAGE

Proteoglycan fragment concentrations in joint fluid of rabbit knees wi th various degrees of secondary arthrosis after meniscal resection, me niscal substitution, and anterior cruciate ligament transection, were related to the gross appearance of the articular cartilage. Knees with normal cartilage were distinguishable by the concentration of proteog lycan fragments in joint fluid from knees with arthrosis. We found a c orrelation (r 0.61) between increasing arthrosis and increasing concen trations of proteoglycan fragments.