GROWTH-DEPENDENT CHANGES IN THE CONTENT OF THE COLLAGEN CROSSLINK, PYRIDINOLINE, IN JOINT CARTILAGE FROM PIGS

Abstract
The age-related changes in the content of the nonreducible collagen crosslink, pyridinoline, was studied in tibial joint cartilage obtained from pigs ranging in age from 4 wk before birth to 30 wk. Pyridinoline was found in all tissues studied. The result indicated that the content of pyridinoline in cartilage collagen increased approximately 15-fold (P < 0.01) with increasing animal age. Key words: pyridinoline, hydroxypyridinium compound, collagen crosslink, cartilage, growth, pig