Abstract
The degeneration of articular cartilage impairs primary functions such as the load transfer and/or distribution, and the dysfunctions of cartilage harms active daily life seriously. Evaluation of the cartilage degeneration, particularly the resultant alteration of material/mechanical properties, is crucial for effective treatments. In this study, the mechanical properties of normal and enzymatically degenerated cartilage of the bovine femoral heads were examined by standard indentation test, and the difference of degeneration effects between the medical region (a load-supporting region) and the lateral region (a non load-supporting region) was evaluated. Furthermore, the material composition and the microscopic structure were observed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. The elastic modulus was decreased by collagenase-treatment at both regions and no difference was found in the collagen and proteoglycan contents between lateral and medial regions. The orientation of collagen fibres in the degenerated tissue did not differ significantly from that in normal cartilage at both regions.
