The degradation of cartilage matrix by an intracellular protease

Abstract

Papain has been shown by Thomas (1956) and Potter, McCluskey, Weissmann & Thomas (1960) to have a gross chondrolytic effect on rabbit ear cartilage in vitro and in vivo. It has been shown that the intravenous injection of the blood proenzyme plasminogen into rabbits during experimentally enhanced permeability conditions, which permit the diffusion and activation of the enzyme in carti-