Objective:　To　identify　the　in　vitro　effects　of　sodium　hyaluronate(HA)　on　the　proliferation　and　the　apoptosis　of　chondrocytes　from　patients　with　Kashin-Beck　disease(KBD)　and　osteoarthritis(OA).　Methods:　Samples　of　articular　cartilages　from　KBD　and　OA　patients,　as　well　as　healthy　volunteers(6　subjects　in　each　of　the　3　groups)　were　dissected,　digested　with　collagenase　and　the　cells　cultured　in　monolayers.　Chondrocytes　from　each　sample　were　assigned　to　an　untreated　group　and　two　HA-treated　groups:　H0(no　HA),　H100(HA,　0.1　g/L)　and　H500(HA,　0.5　g/L).　The　first　passage　chondrocytes　were　used　to　observe　proliferation　using　the　MTT　assay,　and　apoptosis　by　flow　cytometry　through　Annexin　V/PI　staining.　Results:　HA　promoted　proliferation　of　chondrocytes　in　all　the　three　groups,　and　in　KBD　and　OA　groups,　for　cells　cultured　for　4　and　6　days,　H500　significantly　promoted　the　cell　proliferation.　The　apoptotic　rates　of　both　KBD　and　OA　group　chondrocytes　were　in　the　order　H500　＜　HA100　＜　H0.　Conclusion:　Sodium　hyaluronate　administration　has　a　dose-dependent　in　vitro　effect　to　promote　proliferation　and　inhibit　apoptosis　of　chondrocytes　from　patients　with　KBD　and　OA.　©　2009　The　Editorial　Board　of　Journal　of　Nanjing　Medical　University.