title: Effects of leptin to cultured growth plate chondrocytes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to evaluate whether leptin has any effect on growth plate chondrocytes.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied the effects of exogenous leptin on cultured rabbit growth plate chondrocytes. This involved assessing [3H]thymidine incorporation, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, proteoglycan production, leptin receptor (Ob-R) activity, and detection of Ob-R using Western blot analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The existence of Ob-R in growth plate chondrocytes was revealed by Western blot and Ob-R activity. Prior to semiconfluence, leptin increased [3H]thymidine incorporation while at the semiconfluent and early confluent stages, leptin promoted ALP activity and tended to promote proteoglycan production.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Growth plate chondrocytes possess Ob-Rs, and leptin enhance chondrocyte proliferation and subsequent cell differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan. ryoichi@msic.med.osaka-cu.ac.jp
authors.forename: Ryoichi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nakajima
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Inada
authors.forename: Tatsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Koike
authors.forename: Tsunekazu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamano
mesh_terms: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D006132:Growth Plate; D020738:Leptin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011817:Rabbits; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism; D054411:Receptors, Leptin; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D020738:Leptin; D011509:Proteoglycans; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D054411:Receptors, Leptin; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D013936:Thymidine