Quantitation of chondroitin-sulfates, disaccharides and hyaluronan in normal, early and advanced osteoarthritic sheep temporomandibular joints

Abstract

Objective To determine the relationship between synovial fluid, chondroitin sulfate disaccharide and hyaluronic acid to differing degrees of experimental temporomandibular joint (TMJ) osteoarthritis (OA). Design Twenty-four merino sheep were divided into three groups and had different TMJ surgical procedures to produce OA. Group I; control (six sheep), Group II; disc perforation (nine sheep) and Group III; disc perforation and articular damage (nine sheep). Synovial fluid was collected initially and at sacrifice at 3 months. Chondroitin 4-sulfate, chondroitin 6-sulfate and hyaluronic acid were measured and correlated to the OA histologic score. Results The chondroitin-sulfate levels were significantly increased (Group I to Group IIP< 0.001; Group I to Group III P< 0.001), the hyaluronic acid levels decreased (Group I to Group IIP< 0.01; Group I to Group III P< 0.01) with the increasing OA score. Conclusion Chondroitin-sulfate and hyaluronic acid show a correlation with surgically created TMJ osteoarthritis in sheep model.