title: In vivo effect of 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol on the proliferation and differentiation of avian chondrocytes.
abstract: A combination of immunocytochemistry and in situ biochemistry has been used to determine the in vivo effects of 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol [1,25-(OH)2D3] on the proliferation and differentiation of chondrocytes. Chicks were fed a diet supplemented with 1,25-(OH)2D3 (2.5, 5, or 10 micrograms/kg diet) for 3 weeks, and measurements were made in sections of growth plate of chondrocyte proliferation and rate of maturation through the growth plate [using bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd) labeling] and also chondrocyte differentiation [assessed by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity]. The labeling indices of the control and supplemented chicks were similar (23.1 +/- 1.3 versus 23.2 +/- 1.6%); however, within a 21 h period the BrdUrd-positive cells of the supplemented chicks had moved down the growth plate significantly farther than in the control chicks (71.0 +/- 2.8 versus 52.6 +/- 1.8%). Greater ALP (mean integrated absorbance) activity higher up the growth plate of the supplemented chicks indicated a more differentiated phenotype in cells closer to the epiphyseal junction. Within individual transitional chondrocytes ALP activity in the 10 micrograms/kg supplemented chicks was 26.6 +/- 0.85, which was significantly higher (p < 0.01) than that of the control chicks (19.2 +/- 0.9). These results suggest that 1,25-(OH)2D3 in vivo does not increase the rate of chondrocyte proliferation but accelerates the onset of maturation.
authors.affiliation: Roslin Institute (Edinburgh), Midlothian, Scotland.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Farquharson
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Whitehead
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Rennie
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Loveridge
mesh_terms: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002645:Chickens; D003720:Densitometry; D004032:Diet; D006132:Growth Plate / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D002117:Calcitriol