Objective To investigate the role of the heparan sulfate (HS) proteoglycan perlecan (HSPG‐2) in regulating fibroblast growth factor (FGF) activity, bone and joint growth, and the onset and progression of posttraumatic osteoarthritis (OA) in a mouse gene‐knockout model.Methods Maturational changes were evaluated histologically in the knees of 3‐, 6‐, and 12‐week‐old wild‐type (WT) mice and Hspg2Δ3−/Δ3− mice (Hspg2 lacking domain 1 HS, generated by ablation of exon 3 of perlecan). Cartilage damage, subchondral bone sclerosis, osteophytosis, and synovial inflammation were scored at 4 and 8 weeks after surgical induction of OA in WT and Hspg2Δ3−/Δ3− mice. Changes in cartilage expression of FGF‐2, FGF‐18, HSPG‐2, FGF receptor 1 (FGFR‐1), and FGFR‐3 were examined immunohistochemically. Femoral head cartilage from both mouse genotypes was cultured in the presence or absence of interleukin‐1α (IL‐1α), FGF‐2, and FGF‐18, and the content and release of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) and expression of messenger RNA (mRNA) for key matrix molecules, enzymes, and inhibitors were quantified.Results No effect of perlecan HS ablation on growth plate or joint development was detected. After induction of OA, Hspg2Δ3−/Δ3− mice had significantly reduced cartilage erosion, osteophytosis, and synovitis. OA‐induced loss of chondrocyte expression of FGF‐2, FGF‐18, and HSPG‐2 occurred in both genotypes. Expression of FGFR‐1 after OA induction was maintained in WT mice, while FGFR‐3 loss after OA induction was significantly reduced in Hspg2Δ3−/Δ3− mice. There were no genotypic differences in GAG content or release between unstimulated control cartilage and IL‐1α–stimulated cartilage. However, IL‐1α–induced cartilage expression of Mmp3 mRNA was significantly reduced in Hspg2Δ3−/Δ3− mice. Cartilage GAG release in either the presence or absence of IL‐1α was unaltered by FGF‐2 in both genotypes. In cartilage cultures with FGF‐18, IL‐1α–stimulated GAG loss was significantly reduced only in Hspg2Δ3−/Δ3− mice, and this was associated with maintained expression of Fgfr3 mRNA and reduced expression of Mmp2/Mmp3 mRNA.ConclusionPerlecan HS has significant roles in directing the development of posttraumatic OA, potentially via the alteration of FGF/HS/FGFR signaling. These data suggest that the chondroprotection conferred by perlecan HS ablation could be attributed, at least in part, to the preservation of FGFR‐3 and increased FGF signaling.