RESUMO
The present study characterizes the cell density and cellular growth characteristics of functionally and morphogenetically different human cartilages. In fetal epiphyseal, in postnatal nasal septal and in articular cartilage the influence of aging on cell density and in vitro growth characteristics were investigated. Cell density was highest in fetal epiphyseal cartilage and lowest in articular cartilage. In vitro growth of isolated chondrocytes as measured by clonal growth in a semisolid assay was almost identically high in fetal epiphyseal and septal cartilage and significantly lower in articular cartilage. Cell density increased with age in the nasal septal cartilage whereas no age dependency was found in the other cartilages. The stimulatory effects of human biosynthetic insulin, human growth hormone and partially purified IGF I on clonal growth of chrondrocytes were assessed. Only IGF I stimulated clonal growth of chondrocytes and its stimulatory effect was significantly higher in postnatal than in fetal chondrocytes.
