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Decrease in Glycosaminoglycan with Aging in Normal Rat Articular Cartilage Is Greater in Females than in Males
Mikiko Kobayashi-Miura1, Harumi Osago1, Yoshifumi Hamasaki1
1Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Shimane University, Izumo, Japan.
Cartilage
|July 22, 2022
Summary
Aging significantly reduces glycosaminoglycan (GAG) in female rat cartilage more than in males, potentially explaining higher osteoarthritis prevalence in women.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Science
- Aging Research
- Osteoarthritis Pathogenesis
Background:
- Osteoarthritis (OA) exhibits higher prevalence and severity in females.
- Aging-related changes in articular cartilage (AC) constituents may underlie sex-based differences in OA.
- Investigating sex-specific alterations in AC composition during aging is crucial for understanding OA etiology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare age-related changes in articular cartilage (AC) constituents between male and female normal rats.
- To elucidate potential sex-specific mechanisms contributing to the higher prevalence of OA in females.
Main Methods:
- Quantification of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) and collagen (COL) content in the AC of knee, hip, and shoulder joints.
- Comparison of AC constituents between different age groups and sexes in rats.
Main Results:
- Agedependent decrease in GAG was observed in multiple joints in both sexes.
- Females exhibited a more severe decrease in GAG with aging across all measured joints.
- Young female rats already possessed significantly lower knee joint GAG compared to young males.
- Collagen (COL) content in AC remained unchanged with aging in both male and female rats.
Conclusions:
- The pronounced age-related decline in GAG in female rats' AC may contribute to the higher prevalence and severity of OA observed in females.
- Sex-specific changes in cartilage composition, particularly GAG levels, are implicated in the sex disparity of osteoarthritis.
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