Calcium deficiency induces expression of cartilage-like phenotype in chick embryonic calvaria.

A detailed histological study of the chick embryonic calvarium was carried out to characterize the effect of calcium deficiency on cell differentiation during embryonic bone formation. Calcium deficiency on cell differentiation during embryonic bone formation. Calcium deficient chick embryos, produced by means of long-term shell-less (SL) culture, developed skeletal anomalies. In addition to reduced mineralization as detected by alizarin staining, significant changes were also observed in the extracellular matrix of the embryonic bones. First, the undermineralized matrix of the calvaria of SL embryos appeared to be more acidic as shown by more intense hematoxylin staining of the trabecular regions compared to controls. Secondly, the presence of sulfated proteoglycans was suggested by specific Alcian blue staining of the calvaria of Day 14 SL embryos. In addition, indirect fluorescence immunohistochemistry confirmed the developmental appearance of type II collagen in calcium-deficient calvaria, and localized it to undermineralized regions of the bone. These observations demonstrate the emergence of a chondrogenic phenotype in a typically osteogenic tissue during, and perhaps in response to, severe systemic calcium deficiency in the developing chick embryo.