Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Characterization of developing antler cartilage matrix

I. Selected histochemical and enzymatic assessment

  • Original Papers
  • Published:
Calcified Tissue Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Biopsy samples of the main beams and tines were obtained from the antlers of mature Rocky Mountain mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus hemionus) during the rapid phase of the antler growth cycle. The samples were studied using histochemical and enzymatic techniques for the demonstration of mucosubstances. The reserve mesenchyme contained chondroitin 4- and 6-sulfates, hyaluronic acid and sialic acid. During prechondroblastic and chondroblastic differentiation, some strongly sulfated mucopolysaccharides were complemented by low molecular weight or incompletely sulfated chondroitin 4- and 6-sulfates. During maturation of the cartilage strongly anionic mucopolysaccharides (possibly heparin, keratan and/or dermatan sulfates) were present in the general matrix and especially prominent along the capsular margins. Calcification foci, beginning initially in the mid-trabecular regions and eventually extending to the trabecular margins, were highly reactive for mucosubstances and were enzyme-resistant. This histochemical study establishes the cartilaginous nature of the developing deer antler, defines some of the mucosubstance constituents involved in the chondrogenic and calcification process, and confirms the utility of the antler as a model for chondrogenic and calcification studies.

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

  • Anderson, A. J.: Some studies on the relationship between sialic acid and the mucopolysaccharide-protein complexes in human cartilage. Biochem. J.82, 372–381 (1962)

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Banks, W. J.: The ossification process of the developing antler in the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). Calcif. Tiss. Res.14, 257–274 (1974)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Banks, W. J., Jr., Epling, G. P., Kainer, R. A., Davis, R. W.: Antler growth and osteoporosis. I. Morphological and morphometric changes in the costal compacta during the antler growth cycle. Anat. Rec.162, 387–398 (1968)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Banks, W. J., Jr., Neal, J.: The cartilaginous nature of the cervine antler. Proc. 28th EMSA, p. 154–155. Baton Rouge: Claitor’s 1970

    Google Scholar 

  • Bernick, S.: Histochemical study of bone in parathyroidectomized rats. Calcif. Tiss. Res.6, 316–328 (1971)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brandt, K. D., Muir, H.: Characterization of protein-polysaccharides of articular cartilage from mature and immature pigs. Biochem. J.114, 871–876 (1969)

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brandt, K. D., Muir, H.: Heterogenity of protein-polysaccharides of procine articular cartilage. The chondroitin sulphate proteins associated with collagen. Biochem. J.123, 747–755 (1971)

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Campo, R. D.: Protein-polysaccharides of cartilage and bone in health and disease. Clin. Orthop.68, 182–209 (1970)

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Herring, G. M.: The chemical structure of tendon, cartilage, dentin and bone matrix. Clin. Orthop.60, 261–299 (1968)

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huffer, W. E.: Glycosaminoglycans in the cartilage of developing chick embryo limbs. Calcif. Tiss. Res.6, 55–69 (1970)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kempson, G. E., Muir, H., Swanson, S. A. V., Freeman, M. A. R.: Correlations between stiffness and the chemical constituents of cartilage on the human femoral head. Biochim. biophys. Acta (Amst.)215, 70–77 (1970)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kimata, K., Okayama, M., Suzuki, S., Suzuki, I., Hoshino, M.: Nascent mucopolysaccharides attached to the golgi membrane of chondrocytes. Biochim. biophys. Acta (Amst.)237, 606–610 (1971)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kleine, T. O., Hilz, H.: Studies on the biosynthesis of chondroitin-sulphate proteins. I: Characterization of the protein polysaccharides from calf costal cartilage and their labellingin vitro with35SO4. Hoppe-Seylers Z. physiol. Chem.349, 1027–1036 (1968)

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lasher, R.: Studies on cellular proliferation and chondrogenesis. In: Developmental aspects of the cell cycle (Cameron, I. L., Padilla, G. M., Zimmerman, A. M., eds.), p. 223–241. New York: Academic Press 1971

    Google Scholar 

  • Lavietes, B. B.: Kinetics of matrix synthesis in cartilage cell cultures. Exp. Cell. Res.68, 43–48 (1971)

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lillie, R. D.: Histopathological technic and practical histochemistry, p. 715. New York: Blakiston Division, McGraw-Hill Book Co. 1965

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindenbaum, A.: Mucopolysaccharides and mucoproteins of ossifying cartilage. 47th Meeting Fed. Amer. Soc. exp. Biol.22 (2 pt. 1), 647–653 (1963)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lohmander, S., Friberg, U., Antonopoulus, C. A.: Isolation and characterization of the glycoaminoglycans of the guinea pig rib cartilage. Acta. chem. scand.24, 3134–3140 (1970)

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Luna, L. G. (ed.): Manual of histologic staining methods of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, p. 251, 3rd ed. New York: Blakiston Division, McGraw-Hill Book Co., 1968

    Google Scholar 

  • Maroudas, A., Muir, H., Wingham, J.: The correlation of fixed negative charge with glycosaminoglycan content of human articular cartilage. Biochim. biophys. Acta (Amst.)177 492–500 (1969)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mathews, M. B.: The interaction of collagen and ack-mucopolysaccharides. A model for connective tissue. Biochem. J.96, 710–716 (1965)

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McManus, J. E. A., Mowry, R. W.: Staining methods histologic and histochemical, p. 423. New York: Paul B. Hoeber, Inc. 1960

    Google Scholar 

  • Meyer, K., Davidson, E., Linker, A., Hoffman, P.: The acid mucopolysaccharides of connective tissue. Biochim. biophys. Acta (Amst.)21, 506–518 (1956)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Modell, W., Noback, C. V.: Histogenesis of bone in the growing antler of the cervidae. Amer. J. Anat.49 (1), 65–96 (1931)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mollelo, J. A., Epling, G. P., Davis, R. W.: Histochemistry of the deer antler. Amer. J. vet. Res.24, 573–579 (1963)

    Google Scholar 

  • Muir, M. A.: The structure and metabolism of mucopolysaccharides (Glycosaminoglycans) and the problem of the mucopolysaccharidoses. Amer. J. Med.47, 673–690 (1969)

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Newbrey, J. W., Banks, W. J.: The ultrastructure of mature and mineralizing cartilaginous matrix in deer antler. Proc. 31st EMSA, p. 354–355. Baton Rouge: Claitor’s 1973

    Google Scholar 

  • Newbrey, J. W., Banks, W. J.: Ultrastructural characterization of mineralizing cartilage by selected enzymatic digestion. Anat. Rec.178, 426 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Newbrey, J. W., Banks, W. J.: Characterization of developing antler cartilage matrix. II. An ultrastructural study. Calcif. Tiss. Res.17, 289 (1975)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Porter, K.: Production of bone matrixin vitro. II. Histochemical observations on the role of acid mucopolysaccharide in early matrix formation. J. dent. Res.50, 41–47 (1971)

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Quintarelli, G., Dellovo, M. C.: The chemical and histochemical properties of alcian blue. IV. Further studies on the methods for the identification of acid glycosaminoglycans. Histochemie5, 196–209 (1965)

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenberg, L., Johnson, B., Schubert, M.: The proteinpolysaccharides of human costal cartilage. J. clin. Invest.48, 543–552 (1969)

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sayegh, F. S., Solomon, G. C., Davis, R. W.: Ultrastructure of intracellular mineralization in the deer’s antler. Clin. Orthop.99, 267–284 (1974)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Scott, H. R., Clayton, B. P.: A comparison of the staining affinities of aldehydefuchsin and the schiff reagent. J. Histochem. Cytochem.1, 336–352 (1953)

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Scott, J. E., Dorling, J.: Periodate oxidation of acid polysaccharides. III. A PAS method for chondroitin sulphates and other glycosamino-glycuronans. Histochemie19, 295–301 (1969)

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shulman, H. J., Meyer, K.: Cellular differentiation and the aging process in cartilaginous tissues. Mucopolysaccharide synthesis in cell cultures of chondrocytes. J. exp. Med.128, 1353–1362 (1968)

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Spicer, S. S., Horn, R. G., Leppi, T. J.: Histochemistry of connective tissue mucopolysaccharides.In: The connective tissue, Int. Acad. Path. Monogr. No. 7, p. 251–303. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins 1967

    Google Scholar 

  • Spicer, S. S., Meyer, D. B.: Histochemical differentiation of acid mucopolysaccharides by means of combined aldehyde fuchsin-alcian blue staining. Amer. J. Clin. Path.33, 453–460 (1960)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Toda, N., Seno, N.: Sialic acid in the keratan sulfate fraction from whale cartilage. Biochim. biophys. Acta (Amst.)208, 227–235 (1970)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tsiganos, C. P., Muir, H.: Studies on protein-polysaccharides from pig laryngeal cartilage. Heterogeneity, fractionation and characterization. Biochem. J.113, 885–894 (1969)

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wislocki, G. B., Weatherford, H. L., Singer, M.: Osteogenesis of antlers investigated by histological and histochemical methods. Anat. Rec.99, 265–295 (1947)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wuthier, R. E.: A zonal analysis of inorganic constituents of the epiphysis during endochondral calcification. Calcif. Tiss. Res.4, 20–38 (1969)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, Electron Microscopy Training Center, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, 80523, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA

    M. B. Frasier,  W. J. Banks & J. W. Newbrey

Authors
  1. M. B. Frasier
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. W. J. Banks
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. W. Newbrey
    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

Frasier, M.B., Banks, W.J. & Newbrey, J.W. Characterization of developing antler cartilage matrix. Calc. Tis Res. 17, 273–288 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02546600

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02546600

Key words

Search

Navigation