Effects of glycosaminoglycan polysulfate treatment on soundness, hyaluronic acid content of synovial fluid and proteoglycan aggregate in articular cartilage of lame boars.

Eighteen lame boars were equally assigned to two treatment groups based on initial bodyweight and leg soundness. The boars were injected intramuscularly with an aqueous solution of glycosaminoglycan polysulfate or saline on day 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 and killed on day 27. The glycosaminoglycan polysulfate treatment significantly (P less than 0.05) improved leg soundness score, and resulted in an increase (P less than 0.06) in the hyaluronic acid concentration of the cubitus joint synovial fluid, and an increase (P less than 0.05) in the proportion of aggregated proteoglycans in the articular cartilage of the medial femoral condyle. Feed intake, growth rate and articular cartilage soundness score for the cubitus and stifle joints were not significantly (P greater than 0.10) affected by the treatment.