Organ culture of adult human articular cartilage. I. The effect of hyperoxia on synthesis of glycosaminoglycan.

Adult human articular cartilage was maintained in organ culture for eight days in 20 per cent and 95 per cent oxygen. The higher oxygen tension proved to be lethal to the cartilage, whereas the mean number of surviving chondrocytes in 20 per cent oxygen was 91 per cent of the total. Specimens were cultured with radioactive sulfate (Na235SO4) for two days and the uptake of sulfate (DPM) at 95 per cent oxygen was significantly lower than at 20 per cent oxygen. There was a positive correlation between DPM and uronic acid, and between DPM and DNA (p less than 0.001), but not between DPM and dry weight.