Estradiol valerate did not ameliorate experimentally induced osteoarthritis in the rabbit. Both normal and osteoarthritic cartilage were susceptible to estradiol suppression of proteoglycan synthesis. Proteoglycan concentration was not diminished with estradiol, suggesting estradiol suppression of proteoglycan catabolism. The severity of osteoarthritis was unchanged despite markedly decreased proteoglycan synthesis in the estrogen treated animals. Osteophyte proteoglycan metabolism differed from other osteoarthritic lesions. Differences in the metabolism of femoral and tibia1 articular cartilage were observed.The relationship of estrogens to osteoarthritis is not well defined. The possibility that estrogens protect against the disease and that a loss of estrogen activity From the

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