Aggregation of Proteoglycans in Cephalic, Epiphyseal and Articular Cartilages in Growing Sheep

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine whether there are age and site related differences in proteoglycan aggregation in craniofacial and epiphyseal cartilages from neonatal and two-month-old lambs. Proteoglycans were extracted using a dissociative extraction method, and aggregates and monomers separated with molecular sieving. Only a small proportion of the proteoglycans were isolated as aggregates in the articular and mandibular condylar cartilage of the neonatal animals, while in the nasal septal, epiphyseal and synchondrosal cartilages of the same animals the portion of proteoglycans isolated as aggregates, was 3 to 6 times as high. During the first 2 months of postnatal development the proportion of proteoglycans isolated as aggregates tripled in the articular and mandibular condylar cartilages, it decreased substantially in the anterior and posterior nasal septum, while it decreased slightly in the other cartilages. These observations indicate that there are age and site related differences in the extent of proteoglycans isolated as aggregates in cephalic, epiphyseal and articular cartilages.