Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Phosphomonoesterases in growth cartilages of the rat

  • Published:
Cell and Tissue Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Epiphyseal plate cartilage, epiphyseal cartilage, synchondroseal cartilage and mandibular condylar cartilage were studied morphologically and histochemically in 14 days old rats. Ordinary decalcified paraffin sections were stained with hematoxylin & eosin, van Giesons connective tissue stain, or toluidine blue, and used for morphological studies of the different cartilaginous structures. Undecalcified cryostat sections were used for demonstration of acid and alkaline phosphatase. The enzyme activity was tested for at regular intervals during incubation from 15 sec to 120 min.

The morphologic study revealed that a marked similarity of construction exists between epiphyseal plate cartilage and synchrondroseal cartilage. The construction of epiphyseal and condylar cartilage differ from that of the other two structures and also differ mutually.

With small variations the reaction for both alkaline and acid phosphatase was found to be identical in the zones of erosion, hypertrophy and maturation of the four structures. Intercellularly, acid phosphatase is present in all zones in the synchondroseal and the epiphyseal plate cartilage, while in the epiphyseal and condylar cartilages it is only present in the zones of erosion, hypertrophy and maturation.

The identical reaction for acid phosphatase in the epiphyseal and the condylar cartilage is thought, in all likelihood, to be accidental. When kinetic conditions are taken into account, epiphyseal cartilage seems to react like epiphyseal plate and synchondroseal cartilage, while the condylar cartilage takes up an exceptional position among growth cartilages.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Baume, L.J.: Principles of cephalofacial development revealed by experimental biology. Am. J. Orthodont. 47, 881–901 (1961)

    Google Scholar 

  • Baume, L.J.: Differential response of condylar, epiphyseal, synchondrotic, and articular cartilages of the rat to varying levels of vitamin A. Am. J. Orthodont. 58, 537–551 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bradfield, J.G.R.: The localization of enzymes in cells. Biol. Revs. 25, 113–157 (1950)

    Google Scholar 

  • Burstone, S.: Histochemical comparison of naphthol AS-phosphates for the demonstration of phosphatases. J. Nat. Cancer Inst. 20, 601–615 (1958)

    Google Scholar 

  • Burstone, M.S.: Acid phosphatase activity of calcifying bone and dentin matrices. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 7, 147–148 (1959)

    Google Scholar 

  • Danielli, J.F.: Phosphatases and other enzymes considered in relation to active transport and the functions of fibrous protein structures. Proc. Roy. Soc. Series B 142, 146–154 (1954)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dodds, G.S.: Row formation and other types of arrangement of cartilage cells in endochondral ossification. Anat. Rec. 46, 385–395 (1930)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dodds, G.S.: Osteoclasts and cartilage removal in endochondral ossification of certain mammals. Am. J. Anat. 50, 97–127 (1932)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dodds, G.S., Cameron, H.C.: Studies on experimental rickets in rats. Am. J. Anat. 55, 135–165 (1934)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dorenbos, J.: Craniale synchondroses. Thesis, Nijmegen, The Netherlands (1971)

  • Durkin, J.F.: Secondary cartilage: A misnomer. Am. J. Orthod. 62, 15–41 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Durkin, J.F., Irving, J.T., Heeley, J.D.: A comparison of the circulatory and calcification patterns in the mandibular condyle in the guinea pig with those found in the tibial epiphyseal and articular cartilages. Archs oral Biol. 14, 1365–1371 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Durkin, J.F., Irving, J.T., Heeley, J.D.: Changes in the mandibular condyle, tibial epiphysis and articular cartilages during the onset and healing of rickets. Archs. oral Biol. 16, 689–706 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Duterloo, H.S.: In vivo implantation of the mandibular condyle. Thesis Nijmegen. The Netherlands (1967)

  • Duterloo, H.S., Vilmann, H.: Transformative and translative growth of the rat mandible (1976, in preparation)

  • Granda, J.L., Posner, A.S.: Distribution of four hydrolases in the epiphyseal plate. Clin. Orthop. 74, 269–272 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Greenspan, J.S., Blackwood, H.J.J.: Histochemical studies of chondrocyte function in the cartilage of the mandibular condyle of the rat. J. Anat. 100, 615–626 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hall, B.K.: A histochemical study of the condylar secondary cartilage of the mouse. Mus musculus (Mammalia: Rodentia). Aust. J. Zool. 16, 807–813 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hammarström, L.E., Hasselgren, G.: Acid phosphatase in developing teeth and bone of man and Macaque monkey. Scand. J. Dent. Res. 82, 381–395 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hanker, J.S., Dixon, A.D., Smiley, G.R.: Acid phosphatase in the Golgi apparatus of cells forming extracellular matrix of hard tissues. Histochemie 35, 39–50 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Havivi, E., Tal, R.: Phosphatase activity in epiphyseal cartilage of the chicken (Gallus gallus). Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 46-B, 709–716 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Irving, J.T., Durkin, J.F.: A comparison of the changes in the mandibular condyle with those in the upper tibial epiphysis during the onset and healing of scurvy. Archs. Oral. Biol. 10, 179–185 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuhlman, R.E.: Phosphatases in epiphyseal cartilage. J. Bone. Jt. Surg. 47-A, 545–550 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuhlman, R.E., McNamee, M.J.: The biochemical importance of the hypertrophic cartilage cell area to enchondral bone formation. J. Bone. Jt. Surg. 52-A, 1025–1032 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Matsuzawa, T., Anderson, H.C.: Phosphatases of epiphyseal cartilage studied by electron microscopic cytochemical methods. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 19, 801–808 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • McKibbin, B., Holdsworth, F.W.: The dual nature of epiphyseal cartilage. J. Bone. Jt. Surg. 49-B, 351–361 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • Meikle, M.C.: The distribution and function of lysosomes in condylar cartilage. J. Anat. 119, 85–96 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Probylova, E., Hert, J.: Proliferation zones in articular cartilage of young rabbits. Folia Morphol. 19, 233–243 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rigal, W.M.: The use of tritiated thymidine in studies of chondrogenesis. In: Radioisotopes and Bone. Oxford: Blackwell Scientific Publications 1962

    Google Scholar 

  • Rönning, O., Paunio, K., Koski, K.: Observations on the histology, histochemistry and biochemistry of growth cartilages in young rats. Suom. hammaslääk. toim. 63, 187–195 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • Schenk, R.K., Spiro, D., Wiener, J.: Cartilage resorption in the tibial epiphyseal plate of growing rats. J. Cell Biol. 34, 275–291 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • Silbermann, M., Frommer, J.: Phosphatases within the cartilage of the mandibular condyle of the mouse. J. Anat. 116, 335–345 (1973a)

    Google Scholar 

  • Silbermann, M., Frommer, J.: Ultrastructural localization of acid phosphatase in cartilage of young mandibular condyles. Histochemie 37, 365–369 (1973b)

    Google Scholar 

  • Symons, N.B.B.: A histochemical study of the secondary cartilage of the mandibular condyle in the rat. Arch, oral Biol. 10, 579–584 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  • Theunissen, J.J.W.: Het fibreuze periosteum. Thesis Nijmegen. The Netherlands (1973)

  • Thyberg, J., Friberg, U.: Electron microscopic enzyme histochemical studies on the cellular genesis of matrix vesicles in the epiphyseal plate. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 41, 43–59 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Vilmann, H.: The growth of the cranial base in the albino rat revealed by roentgenocephalometry. J. Zool. 159, 283–291 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Vilmann, H.: The growth of the cranial base in the Wistar albino rat studied by vital staining with alizarin red S. Acta odont. Scand. 29, suppl. 59, 1–44 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, Royal Dental College, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Birgit Kenrad & Henning Vilmann

Authors
  1. Birgit Kenrad
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Henning Vilmann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kenrad, B., Vilmann, H. Phosphomonoesterases in growth cartilages of the rat. Cell Tissue Res. 181, 349–359 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00223110

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00223110

Key words

Search

Navigation