title: Apoptosis of growth plate chondrocytes occurs through a mitochondrial pathway.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the role of mitochondria in chondrocyte apoptosis induced by inorganic phosphate (Pi).
  
  
  METHODS
  Chondrocytes isolated from the growth plates of chick embryo tibia were treated with Pi in serum-free media; chondrocyte viability, mitochondrial membrane potential, cytochrome c release from mitochondria, caspase 3 activity, endonuclease activity, and DNA fragmentation were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Exposure to Pi for 24 hours induced apoptosis in growth plate chondrocytes through a pathway that involved loss of mitochondrial function, release of cytochrome c into the cytoplasm, increases in caspase 3 and endonuclease activities, and fragmentation of DNA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that mitochondria are important players in Pi-induced apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics and Department of Basic Sciences, New York University College of Dentistry, New York, NY 10010, USA. cristina.teixeira@nyu.edu
authors.forename: Cristina C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.forename: Aida P Padron
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Costas
authors.forename: Yelena
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nemelivsky
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D002642:Chick Embryo; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000502:physiology; D004720:Endonucleases / Q000378:metabolism; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D006132:Growth Plate / Q000166:cytology; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D051336:Mitochondrial Membranes / Q000187:drug effects*; D010710:Phosphates / Q000633:toxicity*; D013977:Tibia
chemical_list: D010710:Phosphates; D045304:Cytochromes c; D004720:Endonucleases; D020169:Caspases