Lectin and other histochemical studies of the articular cartilage and the chondro-osseous junction of the normal human knee joint

There are few studies on normal, adult diarthrodial joints which look in detail at the histochemical properties of the chondro-osseous junctional region. This study of the normal human knee joint was performed using lectin and other histochemical techniques. There were differences in the reactions of mineralised cartilage compared to those of hyaline cartilage with the former demonstrating more collagen and less glycosaminoglycans. Lectin histochemistry revealed more accessible terminal 2-deoxy, 2-acetamidoa-D-galactose and more N-acetyllactosamine but less fucosyl and alpha-2,6-linked-sialyl termini in the mineralised cartilage. The hyaline cartilage chondrocytes stained for N-glycans but those of mineralised cartilage did not. The staining patterns of prolongations and islands of uncalcified cartilage running through the calcified layer to abut bone and marrow spaces were distinct, resembling the patterns of the hyaline cartilage but with some unique features. A possible relationship was revealed between the presence of the Maclura pomifera ligand (Gal beta 1,3GalNAc alpha 1-) and mineralisation. Subchondral bone had a markedly restricted glycoprofile.