A correlative immuno-light and electron microscopic study on the type I collagen in the bone morphogenetic protein-induced cartilage.

Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) partially purified from bovine bone was implanted into the thigh muscles of AKR-strain mice to induce an ectopic endochondral ossification tissue. The extracellular matrix components around the hypertrophic chondrocytes in the induced tissue were examined by electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry for type I collagen. At 14 days after implantation, chondrocytes became hypertrophic with calcifying matrix around them. Some hypertrophic chondrocytes showed no degenerative appearances. They were ringed by a pericellular matrix with no metachromasia which was distinct from the metachromatic cartilage matrix. The localization of type I collagen was demonstrated by immuno-staining in this matrix. Ultrastructurally, ring-shaped matrix consisted of interwoven collagen fibrils on which a D-periodic banding pattern could be discerned. Immunoelectron microscopy demonstrated immunoreactivity of type I collagen on these fibrils. These results suggest that some of the BMP-induced hypertrophic chondrocytes maintain their activity and produce type I collagen-rich matrix before their lacunae are eroded.