[Autoradiography studies of the effect of oxaceprol on the metabolism of joint cartilage in vitro and in vivo].

Using the radiolabelled precursors (3H-Glucosamine, 3H-proline) and a new procedure of quantitative microautoradiography we investigated the influence of N-acetyl-L-hydroxyproline (Oxaceprol) on anabolic processes in joint cartilage tissue of hens. After in vitro incubation, Oxaceprol stimulated the uptake of 3H-glucosamine and 3H-proline in chondrocytes and enhanced the incorporation of 3H-proline into the macromolecular structures of the cartilage matrix. Also, after in vivo intra-articular injection of Oxaceprol into the knee joints we could demonstrate a significant increase of intracellular glucosamine uptake. Because in our micro-autoradiographic detection method low molecular substances are excluded, the higher rate of precursor incorporation into cells and matrix can be interpreted as a stimulation of proteoglycan and collagen synthesis.