Effect of intra-articular papain, acetylsalicylic acid, indomethacin, prostaglandin and alcohol on the articular cartilage of rabbit knees

Abstract

The present study showed that papain, indomethacin and alcohol, when injected intra-articularly in rabbit knees, produce depletion of the glycosaminoglycans of the articular cartilage with progressive cartilage damage demonstrable roentgenographically and by histochemical methods. Contrary to the observations of other authors, similar cartilage changes were not observed after intra-articular injections of acetylsalicylic acid and prostaglandin B2.