Focal destruction and remodeling in guinea pig arthrosis

We investigated the proximal tibiae in adult, middle-aged and old (6,12, and 30 months) guinea pigs with spontaneous arthrosis by quantitative morphometry. Since the cartilage destruction develops predominantly in the medial tibial plateau, the lateral side may serve as an internal control, In established lesions, cartilage destructions were focal, surrounded by a brim of thickened cartilage that was grossly intact, but showed cell clustering, hypertrophy and increased metachromasia. Peripherally, there was a distinct transition to normal-appearing cartilage. Subjacent to the cartilage ulcerations, subchondral bone was thickened. Compared to the lateral plateau the height of the calcified cartilage increased and the surface density of the osteocartilaginous interface decreased. Marrow depletion and cysts developed below the cartilage ulcerations. Cysts seem to develop through fibrous tissue partially undergoing cartilage metaplasia in tiny noduli that subsequently coalesce, liquefy centrally and expand. Superficially, similar fibrocartilaginous proliferations result in incomplete resurfacing and small areas of subchondral resorption; in the periphery of the joint, they form osteophytes. In the guinea pig, arthrosis tissue destruction is thus accompanied by local tissue proliferation.