LINOLEATE IMPAIRS COLLAGEN-SYNTHESIS IN PRIMARY CULTURES OF AVIAN CHONDROCYTES

The effects of supplemental fatty acids, vitamin E (VIT E), and iron-i nduced oxidative stress on collagen synthesis, cellular injury, and li pid peroxidation were evaluated In primary cultures of avian epiphysea l chondrocytes, The treatments included oleic and linoleic acids (0 or 50 mu M) complexed with BSA and dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate (VIT E at 0 or 100 mu M). After 14 days of preculture, the chondrocytes were en riched with fatty acids for 8 days then cultured with VIT E for 2 days , The chondrocytes were then treated with ferrous sulfate (0 or 20 mu M) for 24 hr to induce oxidative stress, Collagen synthesis was the lo west and the activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was the highest i n chondrocyte cultures treated with 50 mu M linoleic acid and 0 VIT E, In contrast, VIT E supplemented at 100 mu M partially restored collag en synthesis in the chondrocytes enriched with linoleic acid and lower ed LDH activity in the media, The iron oxidative inducer significantly increased the values of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TEAR S) in the culture medium, The data showed that linoleic acid impaired chondrocyte cell function and caused cellular injury but that VIT E re versed these effects, Results from a previous study demonstrated that VIT E stimulated bone formation in chicks fed unsaturated fat, and the present findings in cultures of epiphyseal chondrocytes suggest that VIT E is important for chondrocyte function in the presence of polyuns aturated fatty acids. VIT E appears to be beneficial for growth cartil age biology and in optimizing bone growth.