Immunohistochemical demonstration of epidermal growth factor in chondrocytes of mouse femur epiphyseal plate.

The distribution of epidermal growth factor (EGF) has been studied immunohistochemically in chondrocytes of femur epiphyseal plate cartilage from adult mice. The chondrocytes of the resting and proliferating zones reacted positively, while those of maturing and calcifying zones showed a relatively weak reaction. The immunoreaction was observed over both the cytoplasm and nuclei of resting and proliferating chondrocytes and was prominent in the proliferating chondrocytes. These findings, taken together with the suggested synergistic action of EGF with other growth factors, raise the possibility that chondrocytes, particularly in the proliferating zone, participate in a regulatory mechanism by EGF on cell division and growth in the epiphyseal plate cartilage.