Intraarticular injection of high-molecular hyaluronic acid: An experimental study on normal adult rabbit knee joints

Abstract

High-molecular hyaluronic acid was injected repeatedly into normal knee joints of adult rabbits. Histologically the articular cartilage was not affected by this treatment. the content of chondroitin sulphate, assessed by a histochemical method, was not altered and neither was the water content of the hyaline articular cartilage. on the other hand, in the synovial membrane of joints treated with hyaluronic acid a diffuse infiltration of plasma cells and lymphocytes was observed, indicating that the hyaluronic acid administered exerts its action via the synovial membrane. © 1976 Informa UK Ltd All rights reserved: reproduction in whole or part not permitted.