The effects of nickel ions on articular chondrocyte growth in monolayer culture.

Monolayer cultures of lapine articular chondrocytes were used to study the effects of nickel ions (Ni++) on chondrocyte proliferative capacity, proteoglycan synthesis and cellular morphology. Nickel depressed chondrocyte proliferation at the highest concentration tested (100 mumol/l; P less than 0.01) and also exerted a dose-dependent inhibition of proteoglycan synthesis (50 and 100 mumol/l; P less than 0.01). Despite both these effects, no evidence of chondrocyte damage was detectable at the light-microscopical level. The possible significance of the nickel-induced reduction of articular chondrocyte proteoglycan synthesis for the functional integrity of the residual cartilage following hemiarthroplasty operations is discussed.