1997 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

Histochemical and Cytochemical Studies on Functional Differentiation of the Chondrocytes

Research Project

Project/Area Number	07671983
Research Category	Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
Allocation Type	Single-year Grants
Section	一般
Research Field	Morphological basic dentistry
Research Institution	Meikai University School of Dentistry
Principal Investigator	TAJIMA Yoshifumi Meikai University School of Dentistry, Associate Professor, 歯学部, 助教授 (80105593)
Project Period (FY)	1995 – 1997
Keywords	Chondrocytes / Functional differentiation / Histochemistry
Research Abstract	In this research project, we addressed our interest on the mechanical modulation of the cartilage cell (s) function in accordance with their growth and differentiation. To investigate their mechanism, we studied mandibular condylar and articular cartilages by means of histochemical procedures using a variety of marker for the cartilage cell function. We used the cartilages from hypophysectomized- and ovariectomized rats. The following results were obtained : (1) Growth hormone affects the process of cartilage cell glycosylation and subsequent sulfation occurring in the Golgi complexes. (2) Growth hormone specifically promotes the proliferation phase of the chondrocytes in the proliferative zone in vivo. (3) Estrogen deficiency at early stages after ovariectomy causes cell proliferation and matrix synthesis in the growth plate cartilage.

(4 results)