Glucose 6-phosphatase and glycogen phosphorylase activities in chondrocytes in epiphyseal cartilage of growing rats.

Glycogen, glycogen phosphorylase, and glucose 6-phosphatase (G6Pase) activities were examined cytochemically in chondrocytes of femoral epiphyseal cartilages and cartilaginous ribs of 3- and 7-day-old rats. G6Pase activity was also examined biochemically. Glycogen was abundant in chondrocytes of the reserve zone, while it became scarce in the cells of the proliferative zone. From the upper part (adjoining the proliferative zone) to the lower part of the hypertrophic zone, glycogen accumulated in chondrocytes and decreased in the cells of the degenerative zone. Inversely, glycogen phosphorylase a and G6Pase activities were relatively high in chondrocytes of the proliferative zone and upper hypertrophic zone and were low in the cells of the reserve zone, lower hypertrophic zone, and degenerative zone. The reaction product for G6Pase was present in the endoplasmic reticulum and nuclear envelope of all types of chondrocytes composing the cartilages, although the amounts of reaction product varied with the cell types in parallel with the histochemical results. Biochemical G6Pase activity was higher in epiphyseal cartilages than in cartilaginous ribs. The possible mechanism and significance of the accumulation and decrease of glycogen in chondrocytes of the epiphyseal cartilage were discussed.