Chondrocyte metabolism as affected by vitamin A

Chondrocytes from 13-day-old embryonic chick sterna were cultured for 6 days in the presence of vitamin A (10 I.U./ml). Vitamin A treated chondrocytes became flattened and stellate within the first 24 hours of culture. After 6 days of culture, the treated cells contained 59% less DNA than the untreated controls. Sulfated glycosaminoglycan synthesis was inhibited 84%, and a greater percentage of GAG was secreted into the medium (90%) than in control cultures (78%). Vitamin A inhibited cell proliferation, and to varying degrees, RNA and protein synthesis, and these effects are dose dependent.