Morphofunctional Laws Regulating Chondrogenesis in Vertebral and Iliac Bone Growth Plates

Abstract

To perform comparative analysis of the laws of formation and genetic regulation of chondrogenesis in healthy vertebral growth plates and iliac bone growth plates. Material and Methods. Growth plates of vertebral bodies and iliac articular cartilage obtained from 10 mini-pigs in the period of intensive growth were investigated. The following studies were performed: morphohistochemistry, electron microscopy, immunohisochemistry, gene expression study, biochemical study of proteoglycans and GAGs, and morphometric analysis. Results. Structural and functional organization of cells and matrix, and periodization of the processes of proliferation, differentiation, and genetic regulation (expression of aggrecan, lumican, Pax1, Sox9, HAPLN1, etc.) were similar in the examined growth plate specimens. Conclusion. The processes of genetic regulation of chondrogenic differentiation of chondroblasts in the growth plates of vertebral bodies and the iliac bone crest are synchronous.