Reversible inhibition of chondrogenic expression by certain hyaluronidase preparations

• Published in: Development (Cambridge) Vol. 53; no. 1; pp. 91 - 102
• Main Authors: Pennypacker, J P, Goetinck, P F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Cambridge University Press for The Company of Biologists Limited 01-10-1979
• Subjects: Animals; Cartilage - cytology; Cartilage - drug effects; Cartilage - embryology; Cell Division - drug effects; Cells, Cultured; Chick Embryo; Collagen - biosynthesis; DNA - metabolism; Fibroblasts - cytology; Hyaluronoglucosaminidase - pharmacology; Pronase - pharmacology; Trypsin - pharmacology
• ISSN: 0950-1991; 0022-0752; 1477-9129
• DOI: 10.1242/dev.53.1.91

Embryonic chick chondrocytes were cultured in the presence or absence of different preparations of testicular hyaluronidase. This treatment inhibited the accumulation of cartilage matrix as indicated by phase-contrast microscopy, by Alcian green staining, and by accumulation of 35 S-labeled material. In addition, most preparations of testicular hyaluronidase caused a conversion of the cells to a fibroblastic phenotype characterized by a faster growth rate and the synthesis of type-1 collagen. This effect was found to beconcentrationdependent and was not observed at the minimum concentration of hyaluronidase required toinhibit matrix accumulation. Since two more highly purified hyaluronidase preparations prevented matrix accumulation but did not cause the fibroblastic transformation, it is likely that the conversion to a fibroblastic phenotype is caused by a contaminant in the other hyaluronidase preparations.