Expression of Angiogenic Growth Factors during Endochondral Ossification

Abstract

We performed immunohistochemical staining on sections of day 15.5 mouse embryonic hindlimbs and 2-week-old mouse knee joints. Immunoreactivities of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2 and FGF-9 were demonstrated in chondrocytes of the proliferating and hypertrophic zones during endochondral ossification of long bones. In the growth plate of the 2-week-old mouse knee joint, strong immunoreactivities of TNF-α and FGF-2 were still observed in chondrocytes of the hypertrophic zone. However, VEGF, PDGF and FGF-9 immunoreactivities were decreased. VEGF, PDGF, TNF-α and FGF-2 are well known as angiogenic factors. In the present study, we propose that FGF-9 also relates to vascular invasion at sites of endochondral ossification and replacement of cartilage by bone.

Key words

Endochondral ossification - angiogenesis - VEGF - PDGF - TNF-α - FGF

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