Abstract
Glycosaminoglycan peptides prepared by papain hydrolysis were obtained from osteoar-thritic and normal human femoral heads of different regions. The following results were obtained:
1. Marked depletion of keratin sulfate in the osteophytic and peripheral weight bearing areas.
2. Average length of glycanic chain was definitely elongated in the osteophytic area and increased in some extent in the peripheral weight bearing area.
3. Chondroitin-4-sulfate/chondroitin-6-sulfate ratio decreased in the central and weight bearing areas.
4 In residual original cartilage, balanced loss of matrix glycosaminoglycans, meanwhile, in regenerated matrix of the repaired cartilage regions, fragility of proteoglycan aggregation and impaired metabolic cegulation of glycanic chain in biosynthesis.
