Chemical changes of human knee joint menisci in various stages of degeneration.

Abstract
Human knee joint menisci graded according to degenerative alterations were submitted to chemical analysis. Normal menisci contained 72% water, 0.12% DNA, 22% collagen, and 0.8% total glycosaminoglycans with the following glycosaminoglycan distribution pattern: 40% chondroitin 6-sulphate, 10-20% chondroitin 4-sulphate, 20-30% dermatan sulphate, and 15% keratan sulphate. The water content increased with increasing degeneration, whereas the collagen and glycosaminoglycan contents decreased with relative increase of chondroitin 6-sulphate.

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