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Three‐dimensional in situ zonal morphology of viable growth plate chondrocytes: A confocal microscopy study
Author(s) -
Amini Samira,
Veilleux Daniel,
Villemure Isabelle
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of orthopaedic research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.041
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1554-527X
pISSN - 0736-0266
DOI - 10.1002/jor.21294
Subject(s) - calcein , confocal , chondrocyte , confocal microscopy , in situ , morphology (biology) , anatomy , matrix (chemical analysis) , pathology , biology , chemistry , biomedical engineering , biophysics , microbiology and biotechnology , cartilage , medicine , optics , membrane , genetics , physics , organic chemistry , chromatography
Longitudinal growth, occurring in growth plates with structurally distinct zones, has clinical implications in the treatment of progressive skeletal deformities. This study documents the three‐dimensional morphology of chondrocytes within histological zones of growth plate using confocal microscopy combined with fluorescent labeling techniques. Three‐dimensional reconstruction of Calcein AM‐labeled chondrocytes was made from stacks of confocal images recorded in situ from 4‐week‐old swine growth plates. Three‐dimensional quantitative morphological measurements were further performed and compared at both tissue and cell levels. Chondrocyte volume and surface area increased about five‐ and threefold, respectively, approaching the chondro‐osseous junction from the pool of reserve cells. Chondrocytes from the proliferative zone were the most discoidal cells (sphericity of 0.81 ± 0.06) among three histological zones. Minimum and maximum cell/matrix volume ratios were identified in the reserve (11.0 ± 2.2) and proliferative zones (16.8 ± 3.0), respectively. Evaluated parameters revealed the heterogeneous and zone‐dependent morphological state of the growth plate. Tissue and cellular morphology may have noteworthy contribution to the growth plate behavior during growth process. The ability to obtain in situ cell morphometry and monitor the changes in the growth direction could improve our understanding of the mechanisms through which abnormal growth is triggered. © 2010 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 29:710–717, 2011