title: [Transforming growth factor-beta can induce differentiation of hypertrophic chondrocytes into osteoblast-like cells in epiphyseal plate].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) on the differentiation of hypertrophic chondrocytes in epiphyseal plate in order to understand its role in the mechanism of bone and cartilage formation.
  
  
  METHODS
  We observed the effect of TGF-beta in varied time and dosage on the differentiation of hypertrophic chondrocytes in embryonic chick femora which were cultured in serum-free medium, using histochemical staining to detect the expression of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and immunohistochemical staining to detect the expression of type I collagen and fibronectin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TGF-beta enabled the chondrocytes to express type I collagen and fibronectin, and it enhanced the expression of ALP in hypertrophic zone. Time-effect and dosage-effect relationships were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TGF-beta can induce the differentiation of hypertrophic chondrocytes into osteoblast-like cells in epiphyseal plate of embryonic chick femora. The inducing effect might be closely related to time and dosage of TGF-beta.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, WCUMS, Chengdu 610041, China.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001846:Bone Development; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002642:Chick Embryo; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D005269:Femur / Q000166:cytology; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology*; D006132:Growth Plate / Q000166:cytology*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta