Unilateral sensory denervation of the hind limb in a group of rabbits
caused progressive atrophy of cells in all structures of the knee joint,
whether or not the joint was protected by a plaster cast. Immobilization
without denervation caused proliferative changes, first in the synovium and
then in the articular cartilage. The initial changes in the articular
cartilage following sensory denervation occurred in the middle layers,
suggesting that nutritional deficiency was involved. In contrast, the first
changes in the cartilage of intact immobilized limbs occurred in the
superficial layers and were most likely of mechanical origin.