DO CALCIUM AND ZINC IONS INFLUENCE THE MA TRIX MOLECULE SYNTHESIS OF CHONDROCYTES

The experiments described here tested the effect of various calcium (C a) and Zinc (Zn) concentrations on eel proliferation and matrix molecu le synthesis of fetal and adult bovine chondrocytes in monolayer cultu res. Levels of Ca<0.2 mM in a culture medium or the addition of Zn (0. 1-50 mu M) selectively promoted the production of collagen but did not affect significantly synthesis of proteoglycans. No change in prolife ration of fetal and adult chondrocytes could be observed. In contrast 10 mM Ca promoted the hypertrophic differentiation of chondrocytes (e. g. expression of collagen type X). The results are related to calcium channel configurations in chondrocytes in the discussion.