Energy metabolism, replicative ability, intracellular calcium concentration, and ionic channels of horse articular chondrocytes.
Abstract: Some aspects of the physiology of chondrocytes from horse articular cartilage were studied, since this animal model can be helpful in understanding arthritic processes. The replicative ability of articular chondrocytes, measured by the incorporation of [3H]thymidine, and their capacity of proteoglycan production, evaluated from the incorporation of [35S] sulfate, are very low. In addition, these cells do not differentiate in vitro as shown by the constant specific activity of alkaline phosphatase measured at different times in culture. Two types of potassium channels were identified by patch clamp experiments in the cell-attached configuration, one characterized by a conductance of 40 pS and the other of 100 pS. No active K+ channels were found at Vpip = 0. It was shown by Fura-2 experiments that the low replicative ability is paralleled by a modest variation of the intracellular calcium concentration after a mitogenic stimulus. 31P NMR experiments, both on slices of whole articular cartilage and on isolated cells, demonstrate that chondrocytes derive their energy mainly from the glycolytic pathway.
Publication Date: 1994-01-01 PubMed ID: 8269989DOI: 10.1006/excr.1994.1019Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
The researchers studied several aspects of horse articular cartilage cell physiology to better understand arthritic processes. They found that these cells have low replication and proteoglycan production capabilities, do not differentiate in culture, and they mainly derive their energy from the glycolytic pathway.
Chondrocyte Replicative Ability and Proteoglycan Production
- The research results showed that horse articular chondrocytes have a very low replicative ability or rate of multiplication in a given time period. This was measured by observing the incorporation of thymidine marked with radioactive tritium ([3H]thymidine).
- Additionally, these cells also possess a low capacity for proteoglycan production, which is crucial to building and maintaining cartilage health. This ability was evaluated using the incorporation of sulfate marked with radioactive sulfur ([35S] sulfate).
Chondrocyte Differentiation
- The study also discovered that these cells do not undergo differentiation in in-vitro cell cultures, which is indicated by the constant specific activity of the enzyme alkaline phosphatase at different times in culture. Differentiation signifies the process by which a less specialized cell becomes a more specialized cell type.
K+ Channels in Chondrocytes
- Through patch clamp experiments, two different types of potassium (K+) channels were identified in these cells. One had a conductance of 40 pS and the other had a conductance of 100 pS. Conductance is a measure of how easily electricity (or in this case, ions) flow through a channel.
- Regardless, no active K+ channels were found when the holding potential (Vpip) equaled 0.
Intracellular Calcium Concentration
- The study also revealed that the low replication capability of the chondrocytes is associated with a small variation in the concentration of calcium within the cells, even after the cells were stimulated mitogenically. This finding came from experiments using Fura-2, a fluorescence-based calcium indicator.
Energy Metabolism in Chondrocytes
- Last, the research indicates that the chondrocytes get the majority of their energy from the glycolytic pathway. This was demonstrated by 31P NMR experiments conducted on slices of whole articular cartilage and on isolated cells. The glycolytic pathway is a type of metabolic pathway that breaks down glucose for energy.
Cite This Article
APA
Vittur F, Grandolfo M, Fragonas E, Godeas C, Paoletti S, Pollesello P, Kvam BJ, Ruzzier F, Starc T, Mozrzymas JW.
(1994).
Energy metabolism, replicative ability, intracellular calcium concentration, and ionic channels of horse articular chondrocytes.
Exp Cell Res, 210(1), 130-136.
https://doi.org/10.1006/excr.1994.1019 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Dipartimento di Biochimica, Biofisica e Chimica delle Macromolecole, Università di Trieste, Italy.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Calcium / metabolism
- Cartilage, Articular / physiology
- Cell Differentiation
- Cell Division
- Cells, Cultured
- Cytoplasm / metabolism
- Energy Metabolism
- Extracellular Matrix / metabolism
- Horses
- In Vitro Techniques
- Ion Channel Gating
- Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
- Membrane Potentials
- Potassium Channels / physiology
Citations
This article has been cited 6 times.- Skiöldebrand E, Thorfve A, Björklund U, Johansson P, Wickelgren R, Lindahl A, Hansson E. Biochemical alterations in inflammatory reactive chondrocytes: evidence for intercellular network communication.. Heliyon 2018 Jan;4(1):e00525.
- Hansson E, Skiöldebrand E. Coupled cell networks are target cells of inflammation, which can spread between different body organs and develop into systemic chronic inflammation.. J Inflamm (Lond) 2015;12:44.
- Mousoulis C, Xu X, Reiter DA, Neu CP. Single cell spectroscopy: noninvasive measures of small-scale structure and function.. Methods 2013 Dec 1;64(2):119-28.
- Kumagai K, Imai S, Toyoda F, Okumura N, Isoya E, Matsuura H, Matsusue Y. 17β-Oestradiol inhibits doxorubicin-induced apoptosis via block of the volume-sensitive Cl(-) current in rabbit articular chondrocytes.. Br J Pharmacol 2012 May;166(2):702-20.
- Schulze-Tanzil G, Müller RD, Kohl B, Schneider N, Ertel W, Ipaktchi K, Hünigen H, Gemeinhardt O, Stark R, John T. Differing in vitro biology of equine, ovine, porcine and human articular chondrocytes derived from the knee joint: an immunomorphological study.. Histochem Cell Biol 2009 Feb;131(2):219-29.
- Wilson JR, Duncan NA, Giles WR, Clark RB. A voltage-dependent K+ current contributes to membrane potential of acutely isolated canine articular chondrocytes.. J Physiol 2004 May 15;557(Pt 1):93-104.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
