Development of chick limb bud chondrocytes in cell culture: morphologic and oxidative metabolic observations.

For the purpose of describing early chondrogenic metabolic and structural events, measurements were made of oxidative and other enzymatic activities at various stages in the morphologic development of chondrocytes over a period of 18 to 20 days in continuous cell culture. Comparisons were also made between cells grown in 20% O2 and in 35% O2. These cultures exhibited rapid confluence (within 24 hours), early development of cartilaginous nodules by Day 2 to 3 and metachromatic staining of the chondrocyte matrix by Day 3 to 4. Under 35% O2, cell sheets were thicker and there was increased pleomorphism of chondrocyte and fibroblast cell types, with a relative increase of fibroblast components and reduction in chondroblasts and chondrocyte aggregates. Using the von Kossa staining procedure, calcium salt deposition was observed by Day 9. There was no apparent difference in mineralization of cultures grown under the low and high O2 tensions. Under normoxic conditions cytochrome oxidase and malate dehydrogenase (MDH) activities increased rapidly for the first three to four days and then remained essentially constant. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity increased continuously over the life of the culture. Acid phosphatase increased rapidly until about Day 13 after which it remained constant, whereas alkaline phosphatase showed a bimodal activity profile. Under hyperoxic conditions, cytochrome oxidase, MDH and alkaline phosphatase activity were significantly inhibited. LDH and acid phosphatase activities were markedly inhibited initially but with time showed a degree of recovery.

Absence of mitochondrial terminal respiratory enzymes in cartilage matrix vesicles.

This study attempted to detect evidence of mitochondrial terminal respiratory components in matrix vesicles isolated from rachitic rat tibial epiphyseal plates. Biochemical assays for cytochrome c oxidase, NAD isocitrate dehydrogenase, NADP isocitrate dehydrogenase and succinate-cytochrome c reductase were negative. Polarimetric determinations revealed that the addition of succinate to matrix vesicles in suspension did not cause any increase in oxygen utilization. Spectrophotometric tracings of deoxycholate-solubilized matrix vesicles showed no characteristic absorption peaks or maxima belonging to any of the cytochrome complex components. Attempts to prepare pyridine hemochromes of cytochrome prosthetic groups from the matrix vesicles were also unsuccessful. The above results indicate that key components of mitochondrial respiratory systems are not detectable in rachitic matrix vesicles. The results are compatible with the interpretation that such vesicles are not derived from mitochondria.