The effects of nickel ions on articular chondrocyte growth in monolayer culture.
Monolayer cultures of lapine articular chondrocytes were used to study the effects of nickel ions (Ni++) on chondrocyte proliferative capacity, proteoglycan synthesis and cellular morphology. Nickel depressed chondrocyte proliferation at the highest concentration tested (100 mumol/l; P less than 0.01) and also exerted a dose-dependent inhibition of proteoglycan synthesis (50 and 100 mumol/l; P less than 0.01). Despite both these effects, no evidence of chondrocyte damage was detectable at the light-microscopical level. The possible significance of the nickel-induced reduction of articular chondrocyte proteoglycan synthesis for the functional integrity of the residual cartilage following hemiarthroplasty operations is discussed.
D000818:Animals; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D009532:Nickel / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011817:Rabbits
D011509:Proteoglycans; D009532:Nickel; D004247:DNA