IMMUNOLOCALIZATION OF BASIC FIBROBLAST GROWTH-FACTOR IN PORCINE EPIPHYSEAL GROWTH-PLATE

Recent evidence clearly indicates that basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) signal transduction is essential for normal skeletal developmen t. Here, we report that bFGF and its receptor are specifically localiz ed in the terminal hypertrophic chondrocytes of the porcine epiphyseal growth plate, the tissue responsible for longitudinal bone growth. Si milar observations were obtained with the chondrocytes immediately adj acent to resorbing blood vessels in the secondary center of ossificati on of the epiphysis. These results are consistent with a recent propos al that bFGF functions in coupling osteogenesis with chondrogenesis by attracting the vascular invasion of cartilage from adjacent trabecula r bone. (C) Elsevier Science Inc. 1997.