Degenerative joint changes were produced in one knee of each of fourteen
rabbits by surgical induction of instability. The involved knee in rabbits
with and without systemic salicylate treatment was compared with the knee
not operated on. Salicylate did not significantly change the activities of
lysosomal enzymes in cartilage or synovial fluid, the uptake of tritiated
thymidine, glycine, or 35S-inorganic sulphate by cartilage, or the
histological manifestations of cartilage degeneration.