Abstract
As an animal model with cartilagenous disease, some characteristic features of the osteochondrodysplasia rat (ocd/ocd) are presented. The affected state is lethal in nature, and inherited by an autosomal recessive gene ocd. The affected neonates show a typical dwarfing syndrome with systemic subcutaneous edema. The bone is one of the most severly affected organs. Histologically, there is an unique necrotic area of the chondrocytes spread in the mid portion of the cartilage plate of the affected neonate. Decrease in amount of the ECM substances, especially glycosaminoglycans and hyaluronic acid, are revealed by histochemistry, electronmicroscopy, and biochemical analysis of the affected cartilage. Preliminary findings on the pathogenesis and cultured chondrycytes are also presented.
