070 AGE-RELATED BEHAVIOR OF COLLAGEN AND PROTEOGLYCAN IN SUPERFICIAL, MIDDLE AND DEEP ZONES OF PATELLAR CARTILAGE: FOURIER TRANSFORM INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY (FTIR) ANALYSIS OF NORMAL RABBITS

Purpose: To detect the collagen content and proteoglycan content in the superficial, middle and deep zones of articular cartilage is a trend but still technical challenge. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) is powerful tool to investigate the collagen and proteoglycan in cartilage matrix. The FTIR quantifies the collagen content and proteoglycan content on histologic sections of cartilage. Because the FTIR maps the distribution of collagen and proteoglycan on the sections, the collagen and proteoglycan can be analyzed in the superficial, middle and deep zones of cartilage. Age-related behavior of the collagen and proteoglycan in each zone of patellar cartilage has not been reported yet. Therefore, the objective of this pilot study is to investigate the behavior of the collagen and proteoglycan in each zone using the FTIR. Methods: Non-treated five rabbits of various ages (3-week, 8week, 6-month, 1-year, 2.5-year) were examined. Specimens of patella were removed from each rabbit and all specimens were observed macroscopically and confirmed that the cartilage surface was smooth and glossy. Specimens were then prepared and sagittal sections were cut for histology and for the FTIR. The sections stained with safranin-O/fast green were observed using a light microscopy and confirmed that no fibrillation or no degenerative change had occurred. The sections for the FTIR were not stained. The integrated area of collagen Amide I (wave, 1590-1720 cm-1) was defined as collagen content. The integrated area of proteogly-