The effect of therapeutic agents on cartilage degradation in-vivo.

Implantation of minced autologous cartilage into inflamed air pouches in mice allows the study of therapeutic agents on both the inflammatory process and cartilage degradation. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents were found to reduce cell accumulation in response to carrageenan, but were unable to prevent proteoglycan loss from cartilage. In contrast, D-penicillamine had no effect on the inflammatory process but significantly reduced proteoglycan loss. Our findings suggest that the autologous cartilage transplantation model in the mouse may be useful for studying novel anti-arthritic agents.