Structural changes in reassembled growth plate aggregates.

To investigate possible structural changes in reassembled proteoglycan aggregates during cartilage mineralization, we examined the molecular architecture and dimensions of growth plate proteoglycan aggregates by electron microscopy. The ends of fetal bovine femurs and tibias were separated into three regions: the epiphysis; the cartilage growth plate, consisting of the proliferative zone and the unmineralized portion of the hypertrophic zone; and the calcified portion of the hypertrophic zone along with part of the metaphysis. Aggregates from all three regions had the same molecular architecture. They consisted of central hyaluronic filaments with multiple attached monomers. Monomers consisted of two segments: a peripheral thick segment, which represents primarily the chondroitin sulfate-rich region, and a thin segment attached directly to the hyaluronic acid filament. The length of aggregated monomers did not differ between the growth plate cartilage and the metaphysis, nor did the lengths of the thin and thick segments, indicating that the chondroitin sulfate-rich region of aggregated monomers is not degraded during cartilage mineralization. Between the growth plate cartilage and the metaphysis, aggregates became shorter and had fewer monomers and wider spacing between monomers. These structural alterations in proteoglycan aggregates may be one of the events that prepares the matrix for mineralization.