Separation of rabbit epiphyseal chondrocytes in various stages of differentiation

Separation of fractions enriched in hypertrophic cells and proliferative cells has been achieved by density gradient centrifugation of cells from collagenase digests of rabbit epiphyseal cartilage. Concentrated suspensions of cells are centrifuged on a continuous Percoll density gradient. Hypertrophic cells remain in the upper part of the gradient and proliferative zone cells move to the lower regions. The resultant fractions show differences in mean cell diameter, alkaline phosphatase activity, morphology and synthetic activity in culture. Fractions rich in hypertrophic cells contain larger cells and more alkaline phosphatase activity than those enriched in proliferative cells. In culture the hypertrophic cells flatten as large irregular polygonal cells, whereas proliferative fractions form smaller spindle-shaped cells. In micromass culture hypertrophic fractions incorporate less 35S-sulphate and 14C-proline, and less tritiated thymidine than do proliferative fractions. These results suggest a general reduction in matrix and DNA synthesis with the attainment of the fully differentiated hypertrophic state, coincident with the expression of alkaline phosphatase activity and mineralisation of the cartilage matrix.