Electrolytes of isolated epiphyseal chondrocytes, matrix vesicles, and extracellular fluid

Summary

Chondrocyte, matrix vesicle, and membrane fractions, as well as interstitial fluid samples from the proliferating and hypertrophic zones of chicken epiphyseal cartilage were analyzed for electrolyte content. Intracellular Ca levels were 1.4–2.1 mM, over 90% of which was nondiffusible. Isolated hypertrophic chondrocytes had higher intracellular Na and lower K than proliferating cells. Matrix vesicles contained 25 to 50 times higher concentrations of Ca than the adjacent cells. Vesicles from the zone of hypertrophy contained twice as much Ca as did those from the proliferating area. Ca/P₁ molar ratios of matrix vesicles were much higher than those of cells or of later mineral deposits. These findings indicate that Ca is concentrated in matrix vesicles during formation, but acuumulation of Ca and P₁ must continue in the matrix. X-ray diffraction of freeze-dried vesicle and membrane fractions failed to detect crystalline apatite, suggesting that crystals seen in electron micrographs of matrix vesicles may be artifacts. Interstitial fluid expressed from epiphyseal cartilage was higher in K, P_i, Mg and nucleotides, and lower in Na and Cl, than blood plasma. Fluid from the hypertrophic zone was higher in K and nucleotides, but not P_i or Mg, than that from the proliferating layer. These data suggest that selective leakage or extrusion of these constituents, which are normally intracellular, must occur, especially in the hypertrophic zone. More of the Ca and Mg, and less of the P_i, was protein-bound in cartilage fluid than in blood plasma. There was more binding of the divalent cations in fluid from proliferating than from hypertrophic cartilage. The presence of greater amounts of ultrafilterable peptides in fluid from hypertrophic than from proliferating cartilage or blood plasma, suggests that proteolytic activity may release bound divalent cations during mineralization.