In vitro and in vivo effects of metal chelators on cartilage metabolism

Abstract
The effect of metallic chelating agents (EDTA, EGTA) on cartilage metabolism was studied both in vitro, on calf cartilage, and in vivo, in rabbits. The question asked was whether it was possible to affect neutral protease activity, and not also inhibit beneficial synthetic systems. In vitro, EDTA suppressed anabolic processes, while EGTA had no effect. However, EDTA in vivo did not suppress glycosaminoglycan or RNA production, but paradoxically stimulated them. At the same time, EDTA inhibited neutral protease activity in normal animals.