Changes in growth patterns in mouse condylar cartilage associated with skeletal maturation and senescence

The squamoso-mandibular joint (SMJ) represents one of the most active joints in the mouse. In the young animal the main function of condylar cartilage in the SMJ is to serve as a growth center for the developing mandible. This first phase of skeletal growth lasts up to the age of 6-8 weeks, and is manifested by appositional growth of cartilage followed by endochondral ossification. Thereafter, the condylar cartilage gradually changes its function and serves mainly as an articulating surface for the joint. Consequently, the cartilage changes from a calcifying hyaline cartilage to a fibrous non-calcifying cartilage. The latter phase lasts through the stage of maturation (6 months of age) and it is manifested by a combination of appositional and interstitial patterns of cellular growth. Thereafter, the third phase develops which is characterized by degenerative changes that typify the aging process. In vivo autoradiography with [3H]-thymidine indicated that in the very young animal labeled cells are confined to the chondroprogenitor (proliferative) zone of the condylar cartilage. With maturation, the dimension of this zone as well as the number of labeled cells decrease, so that by 3 months of age the labeling index decreases by 30%. By the age of 6, 12 and 18 months, almost no cells take up the radioisotope while the total number of cells declines. During senescence only a very limited interstitial growth is taking place, a feature that might be associated with the repair processes that accompany the onset of osteoarthritic lesions.