Morphology of Synovial Membrane and Articular Cartilage in the Knee Joint in Experimental Chronic Heart Failure

Structural-and-functional reorganization of the synovial membrane and articular cartilage in the knee joint was studied in rats with experimental chronic heart failure. Separation of fibers, decrease in the relative volume density of microcirculatory vessels, and increase in the expression of MMP-9 and caspase 3 were found in the synovial membrane. A decrease in the thickness of the surface layer (tendency to erosion), vacuolization and necrosis of chondrocytes, and increase in their readiness to programmed cell death were observed in the articular cartilage. Changes in the content of type II collagen and metachromasia were revealed in the cartilage matrix. These changes illustrate the development of degenerative arthropathy in cartilage components.