Effects of leptin to cultured growth plate chondrocytes

• Published in: Hormone research Vol. 60; no. 2; p. 91
• Main Authors: Nakajima, Ryoichi, Inada, Hiroshi, Koike, Tatsuya, Yamano, Tsunekazu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland 01-01-2003
• Subjects: Alkaline Phosphatase - metabolism; Animals; Blotting, Western; Cells, Cultured; Chondrocytes - drug effects; Chondrocytes - metabolism; Growth Plate; Leptin - administration & dosage; Leptin - adverse effects; Obesity - metabolism; Proteoglycans - biosynthesis; Rabbits; Receptors, Cell Surface - metabolism; Receptors, Leptin; Thymidine - metabolism
• ISSN: 0301-0163
• DOI: 10.1159/000071877

This study aimed to evaluate whether leptin has any effect on growth plate chondrocytes.
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.
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.
Growth plate chondrocytes possess Ob-Rs, and leptin enhance chondrocyte proliferation and subsequent cell differentiation.