%0 Journal Article %T Pyrazinamide Effects on Cartilage Type II Collagen Amino Acid Composition %A Larysa B. Bondarenko %A Valentina M. Kovalenko %J International Journal of Peptides %D 2012 %I Hindawi Publishing Corporation %R 10.1155/2012/781785 %X Introduction. Current therapeutic regimens with first-line antitubercular agents are associated to a high rate of adverse effects which could cause pronounced changes in collagen's contents and structure. Investigation of these changes is very important for optimization of antitubercular therapy and minimization of treatment-caused harm. The aim of present paper was to investigate potential effect of pyrazinamide on male rats' cartilage type II collagen amino acid composition. Materials and Methods. Wistar albino male rats (160¨C200£¿g£¿b.w.) were divided into three groups: I¡ªreceived pyrazinamide per os at a dose of 1000£¿mg/kg£¿b.w./day; II¡ªat a dose of 2000£¿mg/kg£¿b.w./day, in both groups it was given for 60 days; III¡ªcontrol. After 60 days of the experiment, rats of the experimental (groups I and II) and control groups were sacrificed and the amino acids contents of male rat cartilage type II collagens were determined using amino acid analyzer. Results and Discussion. The study of pyrazinamide effects (administered in different doses) on rat cartilage type II collagen amino acid contents demonstrated presence of dose-dependent pyrazinamide-mediated quantitative and qualitative changes in these rat extracellular matrix proteins in comparison with control. 1. Introduction There has been resurgence in tuberculosis worldwide. Approximately 2 billion people have latent infection, 8 million would develop active tuberculosis annually, and 2-3 million would die due to tuberculosis. With this resurgence, cases with extrapulmonary tuberculosis have also shown an increase. Approximately 10-11% of extrapulmonary tuberculosis involves joints and bones, which is approximately 1¨C3% of all tuberculosis cases. The global prevalence of latent joint and bone tuberculosis is approximately 19¨C38 million cases [1]. Collagens are major structural proteins of the extracellular matrix, joints, and bones and their correct structure is crucial for the proper functioning of locomotor apparatus. Both tuberculosis per se and its chemotherapy with antitubercular drugs could cause pronounced changes in collagen¡¯s contents and structure [1, 2]. Investigation of these changes is very important for improving first-line antitubercular therapy and minimization of its adverse effects. Previously we have demonstrated putative changes in rat bone and skin type I collagens amino acid contents with using different doses of pyrazinamide [2, 3]. Type II collagen has been classically recognized as the major collagenous component of cartilage. The aim of present study was to investigate potential %U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijpep/2012/781785/