The friction and lubrication characteristics of joint cartilage were investigated using the metatarso-phalangeal joint cartilage of rabbit against rotating stainless steel disk. Friction tests were conducted by dry and bovine serum lubricated sliding at room and body temperatures. For the dry sliding tests, low friction coefficient of 0.1-0.15 was observed at the early period of test, and then the friction coefficient increased as a test continued. With increasing applied load the early period of low friction lengthens. For the lubricated sliding tests, the coefficient of friction decreased as the applied load increased. And also the coefficient of friction decreased continuously to 0.07 as the test duration increases. These results can be interpreted that the squeeze or weeping lubrication mechanism dominates the friction and lubrication characteristics in the joint cartilage of rabbit.