The long-term effect of a short course of transforming growth factor-beta1 on rat articular cartilage

The long-term effect of 3 days' topical administration of TGF-beta1 on unloaded articular cartilage in growing rats was investigated. Three to five rats were sacrificed on days 15, 30, 45, 60 and 90 after the last injection and the patellas were subjected to light and electron microscopic evaluation. The patellas showed age-related changes when entering the maturation phase. Absence of a hypertrophic zone and formation of a subchondral bone plate were observed in both treated rats and controls from that time point. Reduction of total cell amount was observed between older and younger patellas in both treated rats and controls. TGF-beta1 treatment resulted in accelerated maturation and ageing. Furthermore, the administration of TGF-beta1 resulted in a higher unmineralized cartilage with an increased total amount of cells in the intermediate zone. Matrix areas showing ultrastructural features of disturbed matrix composition were seen in the deeper part of this zone at all time points, but in the treated patellas only. The present results indicate that TGF-beta1 treatment may induce changes in articular cartilage in some respects similar to those seen in the early stages of degenerative and inflammatory joint diseases.