Figure 1.

Experimental protocols and elimination of HA from the murine knee joint. (A) The schematic shows details of the time line for intraarticular injections, treadmill running and time points for tissue collection. (B) Characterization of FITC-labeled HA preparation (620 to 1,170 kDa) by Sephacryl S-1000 chromatography. (C) Fluorescence imaging and x-ray analyses of joints shows accuracy of delivery of FITC-labeled HA into the joint space. (F, Femur) (D) Whole body fluorescent imaging was used to determine the time course of disappearance from the joint of FITC-labeled HA (FITC labeled excretory products at 5 h after injection are indicated by **). Procedures are described in detail in the Methods section.