Abstract
Objective. Articular cartilage shows changes with age that are considered to be the most important factors in the development and progression of osteoarthritis. The studies on age changes in articular cartilage have been traditionally based on individual observations but this approach is limited by its subjectivity and bias, yielding considerable variability. So the present study was conducted to observe various age related changes in morphology of femoral articular cartilage using computerized morphometric analysis. Design. The articular cartilage specimens were divided into two groups according to age: group 1 (n = 16) below 40 years (16–40 years) and group 2 (n = 12) above 40 years (41–86 years) of age. 5 μm thick paraffin sections were stained with H&E and analyzed using Image Pro Express image analysis software for quantitative analysis of articular cartilage. Various parameters, that is, total thickness of the cartilage, area of lacunae in each zone, area of subchondral cavities, and number of chondrocytes per 10,000 μm2 area in each zone were measured. Results. Significant difference with age was found in the total thickness and area of lacunae in zone 3. Conclusions. Not much difference is observed in articular cartilage morphology with age. So ageing is not the only risk factor in development of osteoarthritis.
Highlights
Articular cartilage is a specialized connective tissue that covers the ends of the bones in synovial joints
The articular cartilage below 40 years of age showed a smooth surface and a distinct zonation into four zones while in group 2, zonation could be identified in all the specimens, changes were seen in the form of small splits or swelling due to separation of collagen bundles only in the superficial zone of the cartilage
The superficial zone of the articular cartilage plays a vital role in the healthy joint by virtue of its unique location, structure, and material properties
Summary
Articular cartilage is a specialized connective tissue that covers the ends of the bones in synovial joints. Articular cartilage extracellular matrix and cell function change with age and are considered to be the most important factors in the development and progression of osteoarthritis. Much evidence indicates that a single factor may induce a number of sequential responses and structural changes, which either affects the extracellular matrix or cell function, or makes the tissue more vulnerable to compressive loads or injury. These changes eventually lead to a disruption of tissue homeostasis and reduced capacity for regeneration, which manifest as osteoarthritis and eventual tissue destruction. Cartilage matrix and cells are prone to accumulate changes related to trauma, mechanical, or oxidant stress over time [2]
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