Ossification of the skull of the growing hamster. Autoradiographic observations.

Desmal ossification of the roof of the skull and of the alveolus of the incisor teeth of the mandible of growing hamsters and secondary ossification of the mandible were followed by autoradiography. Matrix production patterns as known from chondral ossification can be confirmed for desmal ossification as well. The secondary cartilage of the mandible shows an extremely low glycine turnover. These cells and the surrounding intercellular substance show different incorporation patterns as known for the epiphyseal cartilage of long bones. Secondary cartilage does not have growth functions for the mandible.