These results suggest that collagenase injected intra-articularly digests cartilage directly and stimulates an inflammatory reaction of joint tissues at an early stage, and then cartilage degeneration proceeds. This experimental osteoarthritis is a useful animal model, since the cartilage degeneration is similar to the corresponding lesion in human osteoarthritis, and it is conveniently induced by a dose of collagenase lower than that of papain used, within a short period.
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