ISSN:
1432-0878
Keywords:
Cartilage
;
Guinea pig
;
Epiphyseal plate
;
Ultrastructure
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
Summary The fine structure of the upper tibial epiphyseal plate of the normal guinea pig has been investigated. On morphological and functional grounds this cartilage can be divided into four zones. In all zones the chondrocytes are distributed in an electronlucent organic matrix composed of thin collagenous fibrils and small non-membrane-bounded granules representing proteoglycans. 1. The reserve cell zone consists of a primitive type of hyaline cartilage. The cells have a very high nucleo-cytoplasmic ratio. The endoplasmic reticulum is the most developed cellular organelle. 2. In the proliferative zone the flattened cells are arranged in distinct columns. The endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi complex are prominent. Mitochondria and lysosomes are more numerous than in the reserve cells. Extracellularly, the collagen fibrils are brought together in longitudinal and transversal septa. 3. In the hypertrophying zone the cells are more rounded and the pericellular zones wider than in the preceding zones. The endoplasmic reticulum contains dilated cisternae. The Golgi complex includes many large vacuoles. Mitochondria and lysosomes are more abundant than previously. 4. There is a progressive mineralization of the longitudinal septa in the calcifying zone. Within the cells the amount of endoplasmic reticulum is decreased. Its cisternae mostly are short, rounded, and non-continuous. The Golgi apparatus is poorly developed, and the mitochondria few.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00337633
