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.