# THE HYPERTROPHIC CHONDROCYTE AND ITS PERICELLULAR MATRIX

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON · 1987 · $64,255

## Abstract

Newly developed morphological techniques will be applied for the first time
to the study of the normal osteogenic mechanisms in growth plate
cartilage.  These studies are designed first to increase the understanding
of complex cellular interactions associated with metaphyseal vascular
penetration into the distal growth plate and subsequently to increase the
understanding of the causes of the failure of osteogenesis in a group of
over 50 orthopedic diseases, classified as the osteochondroses, that affect
young and adolescent children.

Using morphological criteria from time lapse cinematography, lectin-binding
histochemistry, and improved chemical fixation and serial section microtomy
for electron microscopy, it is proposed:
1. To test the hypothesis that for most of its  life the terminal
hypertrophic chondrocyte is metabolically active in preparing the matrix
for vascular penetration; however, ultimately each terminal hypertrophic
chondrocyte condenses into a dark cell which rests on the last transverse
septum and dies a programmed cellular death by apoptosis.  It is
hypothesized that condensation is of very short real time duration in the
total life of the terminal hypertrophic chondrocyte.  Its real time
duration will be estimated both with time lapse cinematography in an organ
culture system and with morphometric methods modelled after cell cycle
techniques.
2. To use the sequence of morphological changes of hypertrophic cell
ultrastructure as an internal sequencing time standard by which to study
cellular fluxes at the chondro-osseous junction.  It is hypothesized that
platelets, monocytes, mononuclear phagocytes, and extensions of osteoclasts
precede vascular endothelial cells into the pericellular space surrounding
terminal hypertrophic chondrocytes.
3. To analyze matrix and chondrocytic lectin-binding glycoconjugates in the
distal hypertrophic cell zone.  It is hypothesized that changes in
glycoconjugates relfect a reorganization of macromolecular components of
the pericellular matrix prior to capillary penetration which results both
in the clearance of matrix and cellular debris, and in the creation of a
suitable substrate for the attachment of migrating endothelial cells.  In
addition, it is proposed to use lectin-binding histochemistry at both the
light and electron microscopical levels to test the hypothesis that plasma
membrane changes of the terminal hypertrophic chondrocyte allow its
recognition by mononuclear macrophages.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3157058
- **Project number:** 5R01AR035155-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON
- **SAM.gov UEI:** LCLSJAGTNZQ7
- **Principal Investigator:** NORMAN J WILSMAN
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $64,255
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1985-07-01 → 1988-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3157058

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3157058, THE HYPERTROPHIC CHONDROCYTE AND ITS PERICELLULAR MATRIX (5R01AR035155-03). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3157058. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*