Compartmentalization of proline pools and apparent rates of collagen and non-collagen protein synthesis in arterial smooth muscle cells in culture

Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Profile Analysis of Muscles Reveals Pathways and Biomarkers Involved in Flavor Differences between Caged and Cage-Free Chickens

The cage-free system has gained a lot of interest in recent years because it can offer chickens more freedom and is easier to manage compared with free-range rearing systems, but few studies have focused on the effect of the cage-free rearing system on meat quality and flavor. In this study, 44 Jianghan chickens were reared in caged or cage-free systems to explore the effect of different rearing systems on meat-eating quality. Sensory evaluation of cooked muscles showed that the leg muscle aroma, juiciness, and flavor intensity significantly improved by the cage-free rearing. The cage-free hens had significantly lower body weight, abdominal fat percentage, and meat fat content, but higher meat moisture content. The cage-free group had brighter breast muscle and redder leg muscle color 24 h after slaughter. Transcriptomic and metabolomic profile analysis of the leg muscle samples showed that the cage-free rearing changed biosynthesis pathways associated with glycogen metabolism, lipid and fatty acid biosynthesis and transport, muscle cellular type, and cellular components, which were related to raw meat quality. Different rearing systems also resulted in differences in glycolipid metabolism, lipid metabolism, and altered levels of intramuscular fat content and other flavor precursors. Pathways such as glycerolipid metabolism, adipocytokine signaling, and metabonomic pathways such as linoleic acid, glycerophospholipid, arginine, proline, and β-alanine metabolism may be responsible for the meat quality and flavor change.

Topically applied KTTKS: a review

Skin ageing is an irreversible process that is caused by both intrinsic and extrinsic factors. The possibility of arresting or delaying skin ageing represents a large research area and has a big potential in the cosmetics sector. Recently, the polypeptide lysine-threonine-threonine-lysine-serine (KTTKS) has attracted a lot of attention and it features in numerous up-market cosmetic products where it has become erroneously associated with the term 'pentapeptide'. In this study, we review in detail KTTKS and its major derivatives, in terms of the limited information in the literature and an appraisal of its physicochemical and theoretical skin permeation properties. There appears to be a sound in vitro basis for its action on fibroblasts due to its stimulatory effect on extracellular matrix synthesis, where the stimulatory effect of KTTKS is specific to collagen types I and III and fibronectin expression. However, there is a surprising absence of in vitro skin penetration data in the literature, and there are relatively few clinical studies using these materials.

Measurement of protein metabolism in epidermis and dermis

We found that, in the rabbit ear, the dermal protein contains 75.5% of cutaneous phenylalanine and 97.9% of cutaneous proline; the remaining 24.5% of phenylalanine and 2.1% of proline are in the epidermal protein. This finding led us to develop two novel models that use phenylalanine and proline tracers and the rabbit ear to quantify protein kinetics in the epidermis and dermis. The four-pool model calculates the absolute rates of protein kinetics and amino acid transport, and the two-pool model calculates the apparent rates of protein kinetics that are reflected in the blood. The results showed that both epidermis and dermis maintained their protein mass in the postabsorptive state. The rate of epidermal protein synthesis was 93.4 +/- 37.6 mg x 100 g(-1) x h(-1), which was 10-fold greater than that of the dermal protein (9.3 +/- 5.8 mg x 100 g(-1) x h(-1)). These synthetic rates were in agreement with those measured simultaneously by the tracer incorporation method. Comparison of the four-pool and two-pool models indicated that intracellular cycling of amino acids accounted for 75 and 90% of protein kinetics in the dermis and epidermis, respectively. We conclude that, in the skin, efficient reutilization of amino acids from proteolysis for synthesis enables the maintenance of protein mass in the postabsorptive state.

Growth and maturational changes in dense fibrous connective tissue following 14 days of rhGH supplementation in the dwarf rat

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) on patella tendon (PT), medial collateral ligament (MCL), and lateral collateral ligament (LCL) on collagen growth and maturational changes in dwarf GH-deficient rats. Twenty male Lewis mutant dwarf rats, 37 days of age, were randomly assigned to Dwarf + rhGH (n = 10) and Dwarf + vehicle (n = 10) groups. The GH group received 1.25 mg rhGH/kg body wt twice daily for 14 days. rhGH administration stimulated dense fibrous connective tissue growth, as demonstrated by significant increases in hydroxyproline specific activity and significant decreases in the non-reducible hydroxylysylpyridinoline (HP) collagen cross-link contents. The increase in the accumulation of newly accreted collagen was 114, 67, and 117% for PT, MCL, and LCL, respectively, in 72 h. These findings suggest that a short course rhGH treatment can affect the rate of new collagen production. However, the maturation of the tendon and ligament tissues decreased 18-25% during the rapid accumulation of de novo collagen. We conclude that acute rhGH administration in a dwarf rat can up-regulate new collagen accretion in dense fibrous connective tissues, while causing a reduction in collagen maturation.

Measurement of dermal collagen synthesis rate in vivo in humans

Accumulation of collagen produces organ dysfunction in many pathological conditions. We measured the fractional synthesis rate (FSR) of dermal collagen in five human volunteers from the increment of [13C]proline in detergent-soluble dermal collagen hydroxylated to hydroxyproline during a continuous infusion of L-[1-13C]proline. In these and eight other volunteers, we measured [13C]proline enrichment in skin aminoacyl-tRNA, skin tissue fluid amino acid, and plasma. The prolyl-[13C]tRNA enrichment was one-half that in tissue fluid proline and more than threefold less than in plasma. The FSR of dermal collagen was 0.076 +/- 0.063%/h (mean +/- SD), similar to previously reported rates for skeletal muscle contractile proteins and substantially slower than hepatically derived circulating proteins such as albumin or fibrinogen. We conclude that the FSR of human dermal collagen resembles that of other human proteins considered to display slow turnover. The current method for its measurement may be used to determine the regulation of collagen synthesis in other organs and disease states.

Chondrocyte biosynthesis correlates with local tissue strain in statically compressed adult articular cartilage

In this study, we investigated the depth-dependent metabolic and structural responses of adult articular cartilage to large-strain, static, unconfined compression. Changes in cell biosynthetic activity and several morphometry-based structural parameters (cell density, cell volume fraction, cell surface-area density, mean cell surface area, and mean cell volume) were measured at eight sites representing different depth-zones between the articular surface and the cartilage/bone border. In addition, local axial strain in the superficial, transitional, upper radial, and lower radial zones was estimated on the basis of the change in cell density values. Static compression of articular cartilage revealed a highly heterogeneous deformation profile through the depth of the sample as well as zone-specific changes in biosynthetic activity, as reflected by incorporation of [3H]proline. The axial strains in the top layers were greater than the applied surface-to-surface strain, whereas axial strains adjacent to the cartilage/bone border were significantly less than the applied strain. Zonal changes in cell density and axial strain that occurred during static compression correlated well with alterations in metabolic activity. These coordinated changes between cell biosynthesis and cartilage structure suggest that zone-specific variations in mechanical stimuli could be responsible for spatially varied patterns of cartilage metabolic activity under load.

Cortical bone growth and maturational changes in dwarf rats induced by recombinant human growth hormone

The growth hormone (GH)-deficient dwarf rat was used to investigate recombinant human (rh) GH-induced bone formation and to determine whether rhGH facilitates simultaneous increases in bone formation and bone maturation during rapid growth. Twenty dwarf rats, 37 days of age, were randomly assigned to dwarf plus rhGH (GH; n = 10) and dwarf plus vehicle (n = 10) groups. The GH group received 1.25 mg rhGH/kg body wt two times daily for 14 days. Biochemical, morphological, and X-ray diffraction measurements were performed on the femur middiaphysis. rhGH stimulated new bone growth in the GH group, as demonstrated by significant increases (P < 0.05) in longitudinal bone length (6%), middiaphyseal cross-sectional area (20%), and the amount of newly accreted bone collagen (28%) in the total pool of middiaphyseal bone collagen. Cortical bone density, mean hydroxyapatite crystal size, and the calcium and collagen contents (microgram/mm3) were significantly smaller in the GH group (P < 0.05). Our findings suggest that the processes regulating new collagen accretion, bone collagen maturation, and mean hydroxyapatite crystal size may be independently regulated during rapid growth.

Glutamine increases collagen gene transcription in cultured human fibroblasts

We have previously shown that glutamine stimulates the synthesis of collagen in human dermal confluent fibroblast cultures (Bellon, G. et al. [1987] Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 930, 39-47). In this paper, we examine the effects of glutamine on collagen gene expression. A dose-dependent effect of glutamine on collagen synthesis was demonstrated from 0 to 0.25 mM followed by a plateau up to 10 mM glutamine. Depending on the cell population, collagen synthesis was increased by 1.3-to 2.3-fold. The mean increase in collagen and non-collagen protein synthesis was 63% and 18% respectively. Steady-state levels of alpha 1(I) and alpha 1(III) mRNAs, were measured by hybridizing total RNA to specific cDNA probes at high stringency. Glutamine increased the steady-state level of collagen alpha 1(I) and alpha 1(III) mRNAs in a dose-dependent manner. At 0.15 mM glutamine, collagen mRNAs were increased by 1.7-and 2.3-fold respectively. Nuclear run-off experiments at this concentration of glutamine indicated that the transcriptional activity was increased by 3.4-fold for the pro alpha 1(I) collagen gene. The effect of glutamine on gene transcription was also supported by the measurement of pro alpha 1(I) collagen mRNA half-life since glutamine did not affect its stability. Protein synthesis seemed to be required for the glutamine-dependent induction of collagen gene expression since cycloheximide suppressed the activation. The effect of glutamine appeared specific because analogues and/or derivatives of glutamine, such as acivicin, 6-diazo-5-oxo-L-norleucine, homoglutamine, ammonium chloride and glutamate did not replace glutamine. The influence of amino acid transport systems through plasma membrane was assessed by the use of 2(methylamino)-isobutyric acid and beta 2-aminobicyclo-(2.2.1)-heptane-2-carboxylic acid. The glutamine-dependent induction of collagen gene expression was found to be independent of transport system A but dependent on transport system L whose inhibition induced a decrease in pro alpha 1(I) collagen gene transcription by an unknown mechanism. Thus, glutamine, at physiological concentrations, indirectly regulates collagen gene expression.

Age-related alterations in collagen and total protein metabolism determined in cultured rat dermal fibroblasts: age-related trends parallel those observed in rat skin in vivo

The cultured fibroblast has been extensively used as a model system to study aging. However, few studies have examined the veracity of observations obtained in cultured fibroblasts aged in vitro to those made in animal tissues in vivo. This paper compares age-related alterations in collagen metabolism measured in cultured cells with previously reported results in the aging rat (Mays et al. (1991) Biochem. J. 276, 307-313). Age-related changes in collagen synthesis in rat skin fibroblasts in vitro over 30 population doublings were determined based on the production of hydroxy-[14C]proline. Degradation of newly synthesized collagen was based on the appearance of free hydroxy-[14C]proline in the culture system. Total protein synthesis rates were based on the incorporation of [14C]proline into proteins. In vitro rates of collagen synthesis decreased 5-fold over 30 population doublings (P < 0.05). Degradation of newly synthesized collagen increased from 33.0 +/- 0.8% (n = 4, SEM) to 45.2 +/- 1.1% (n = 4; P < 0.05) over the same period, with a maximum after 25 population doublings of 55.8 +/- 1.1% (n = 4). Total protein synthesis rates decreased by one-half over 30 population doublings (P < 0.05). The results indicated that collagen production decreased as cells aged in vitro and that this was due to both changes in synthesis and degradation. The results demonstrate that age-related alterations in collagen and total protein metabolism of skin fibroblasts in culture were similar to those reported previously for skin in vivo, suggesting that for studies of these processes, fibroblasts in culture provide an appropriate model.

Basic fibroblast growth factor in the extracellular matrix suppresses collagen synthesis and type III procollagen mRNA levels in arterial smooth muscle cell cultures

To determine the effects of an intact extracellular matrix on collagen synthesis, arterial smooth muscle cells (SMCs) were plated sparsely on a cell-free, SMC-derived matrix and examined the following day. Collagen synthesis during a 5-hour incubation by cells on the matrix was reduced to 67% of the control values obtained from cultures on plastic. Total protein synthesis was unaffected. Treatment of the matrix with heparitinase to remove basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) before seeding the SMCs abolished the inhibitory effect of the matrix on collagen synthesis. The inhibitory effect was also eliminated by treating the matrix with a neutralizing polyclonal antibody directed against bFGF. Collagen synthesis by SMC cultures grown in wells coated with purified bFGF was only 61% that of control cultures, whereas total protein synthesis remained unchanged. Slot-blot analysis revealed that the relative message level for alpha 1(III) procollagen was reduced in cultures grown on the preexisting matrix or on plastic precoated with bFGF, whereas the alpha 1(I) procollagen message was unaffected. These results demonstrate the ability of the extracellular matrix to modulate the synthesis of collagen by arterial SMCs and indicate that bFGF in the matrix is responsible for these effects.

Cell density and proliferation modulate collagen synthesis and procollagen mRNA levels in arterial smooth muscle cells

Collagen synthesis and procollagen mRNA levels were determined and compared in (1) sparse, rapidly proliferating smooth muscle cells (SMC); (2) postconfluent, density-arrested SMC; and (3) sparse, nonproliferating (mitogen-deprived) rabbit arterial SMC. Collagen synthesis per SMC was decreased by 70% in postconfluent versus proliferating cells. However, relative collagen synthesis, expressed as the percentage of total protein synthesis, increased from 3.7% in sparse cultures to approximately 7% in postconfluent cultures. Slot blot analyses demonstrated that the relative steady state alpha 1(I) and alpha 1(III) procollagen mRNA levels were also increased in postconfluent cultures when compared to sparse cultures. As with collagen synthesis per cell, the mRNA levels per cell for types I and III procollagen in postconfluent cells, determined by densitometry of blots, were likewise approximately half that found in sparse, proliferating cells. In a separate study to determine if cell-cell contact was necessary for eliciting these changes in collagen synthesis, we determined collagen synthesis in mitogen-deprived and proliferating SMC cultures at low density. Mitogen-deprived cultures synthesized only 10% the amount of collagen produced (per cell) by proliferating cultures in 10% fetal bovine serum. Relative collagen synthesis in proliferating and nonproliferating cultures was 5.0 and 8.3%, respectively. These results demonstrate elevated collagen synthesis, per cell, by proliferating cultures compared with nonproliferating cultures, regardless of whether cells were rendered quiescent by density arrest or by mitogen deprivation. Results also suggest a pretranslational mechanism for the regulation of collagen synthesis in rabbit aortic smooth muscle cells.

Source of amino acids for tRNA acylation. Implications for measurement of protein synthesis

Estimates of protein-synthesis rates using radioisotopes require accurate measurement of the specific radioactivity of the label in protein and in the precursor pool over time. Although the extracellular and intracellular pools of amino acids are easiest to sample, the tRNA pool is the direct precursor and is the appropriate pool for sampling. To test if the intracellular or extracellular pools reflect the tRNA specific radioactivity, a chicken macrophage cell line was incubated in medium containing either 0.23 mM-leucine and 14.5 microCi of [3H]leucine (tracer dose) or 2.3 microM-leucine plus 145.0 microCi of [3H]leucine (flooding dose). At both leucine levels, the tRNA specific radioactivity reached a plateau quickly, but did not equilibrate with either the extracellular or intracellular specific radioactivity within 30 min, and remained closer to that of protein. In a second experiment, proteins in chicken macrophages were labelled with [3H]leucine for 2 days. Labelling medium was removed, and the cells were washed free of residual free [3H]leucine and incubated with medium containing either 0.23 mM- or 2.3 mM-leucine (unlabelled). The specific radioactivity of leucyl-tRNA leucine reached a plateau within 2 min and remained considerably closer to that in the protein than that in intracellular or extracellular pools for at least 60 min. These results suggest that amino acids from protein degradation are a primary source for charging tRNA. When protein-synthesis rates are estimated by label incorporation, use of extracellular or intracellular specific-radioactivity values result in a marked underestimation.

Age-related changes in collagen synthesis and degradation in rat tissues. Importance of degradation of newly synthesized collagen in regulating collagen production

During developmental growth, collagens are believed to be continuously deposited into an extracellular matrix which is increasingly stabilized by the formation of covalent cross-links throughout life. However, the age-related changes in rates of synthetic and degradative processes are less well understood. In the present study we measured rates of collagen synthesis in vivo using a flooding dose of unlabelled proline given with [14C]proline and determining production of hydroxy[14C]proline. Degradation of newly synthesized collagen was estimated from the amount of free hydroxy [14C]proline in tissues 30 min after injection. Collagen fractional synthesis rates ranged from about 5%/day in skeletal muscle to 20%/day in hearts of rats aged 1 month. At 15 months of age, collagen fractional synthesis rates had decreased markedly in lung and skin, but in skeletal muscle and heart, rates were unchanged. At 24 months of age, synthesis rates had decreased by at least 10-fold in all tissues, compared with rates at 1 month. The proportion of newly synthesized collagen degraded ranged from 6.4 +/- 0.4% in skin to 61.6 +/- 5.0% in heart at 1 month of age. During aging the proportion degraded increased in all tissues to maximal values at 15 months, ranging from 56 +/- 7% in skin to 96 +/- 1% in heart. These data suggest that there are marked age-related changes in rates of collagen metabolism. They also indicate that synthesis is active even in old animals, where the bulk of collagens produced are destined to be degraded.

Minocycline-treatment of diabetic rats normalizes skin collagen production and mass: possible causative mechanisms

Daily minocycline-treatment of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats not only prevented a diabetes-caused atrophy of skin collagen mass (10-mos old rats), but also normalized skin collagen mass to match that of growing (ca. 1%/d) non-diabetic controls (4- and 5-mos old rats). The causative mechanism by which minocycline-treatment normalizes skin collagen mass must, in part, be related to a general anabolic effect on growth (body weight) because the effect on skin collagen mass correlates strongly to that on body weight. Consequently, a minocycline-stimulated increase of a systemic factor (such as insulin-like growth factor) is not unlikely. The anabolic effect of minocycline-treatment of diabetic rats is also expressed as a normalized cellular ribosome mass (an index of total protein synthetic capacity) and a normalized absolute rate of collagen production. (Calculation of an absolute rate was justified by an apparent maximum saturation of the prolyl-tRNA pool(s) of skin, maximum saturation obtained by the pool-flooding approach). The normalized skin ribosome amount does not, however, explain a selective effect of minocycline-treatment on collagen production as opposed to that for non-collagen protein, this selective effect measured as relative collagen production. To explain such selectivity, the inhibition of diabetes-induced excess skin collagenase activity seems unlikely. (This inference is based on results from a preliminary study indicating that recently [less than 2 h] synthesized collagen is not degraded by the excess collagenase in skin of diabetic rats). Thus, the principal collagen fraction acted on by pathologically excess collagenase might be collagen at a later stage (greater than 2 h after synthesis) in its life cycle. (Another possibility for the selective effect of minocycline on collagen production, as yet untested, is reduced intracellular procollagen degradation.) Overall, this is the first study aimed at discerning the mechanism(s) by which minocycline-treatment enhances the rate of collagen production in tissues of a diabetic rat. For future studies, the extent to which the positive effect on growth, ribosome mass, and rate of collagen production contributes to the change of collagen mass must, along with the known minocycline-inhibition of collagenase activity, be quantified. Such quantification is a prerequisite for evaluating the chemotherapeutic efficacy of minocycline-treatment on collagen-degradative diseases.

Stimulation of collagen synthesis in fibroblast cultures by a triterpene extracted from Centella asiatica

The drug "Titrated Extract from Centella asiatica" (TECA), used for its stimulating properties on the healing of wounds, is a mixture of 3 terpenes extracted from a tropical plant: asiatic acid (30%, w/w), madecassic acid (30%, w/w) and asiaticoside (40%, w/w). The effects of TECA and its individual components were checked on human foreskin fibroblast monolayer cultures. TECA increased the collagen synthesis in a dose-dependent fashion whereas a simultaneous decrease in the specific activity of neosynthesized collagen was observed. Asiatic acid was found to be the only component responsible for collagen synthesis stimulation. TECA and all three terpenes increased the intracellular free proline pool. This effect was independent of the stimulation of collagen synthesis.

Parathyroid hormone alteration of free and tRNA-bound proline specific activities in cultured mouse osteoblast-like cells

The effects of the synthetic amino-terminal fragment of parathyroid hormone [bPTH-(1-34)] on proline uptake and on the specific activities of intracellular free proline and tRNA-bound proline were studied in confluent primary cultures of osteoblast-like cells isolated from neonatal mouse calvaria. Pretreatment of cells for 4 hours with 24 nM bPTH-(1-34) increased subsequent proline uptake by approximately 50-60%; also increased were the specific activities of both intracellular free proline and tRNA-bound proline when [3H]proline was included in the extracellular uptake solution. Specific activities of the free and tRNA-bound proline pools remained elevated after proline uptake times of as long as 30 minutes and 120 minutes, respectively. These results indicate that experiments in which radiolabeled proline is used to evaluate PTH-induced protein synthesis in bone cells must be interpreted cautiously, since apparent changes in protein synthesis might actually reflect, at least in part, PTH-induced changes in the specific activities of precursor pools.

Parathyroid hormone regulation of proline uptake by cultured neonatal mouse osteoblastlike cells

Regulation of proline uptake by the synthetic amino-terminal fragment of bovine parathyroid hormone [bPTH-(1-34)] has been studied in confluent primary cultures of osteoblastlike cells isolated from neonatal mouse calvaria. The initial velocity of proline transport was increased by 85% in cultures treated with 24 nM bPTH-(1-34) for 6 h. Cycloheximide, at a concentration that inhibited protein synthesis by 97%, did not prevent this effect. However, adding the inhibitor during the first 1-2 h of hormone treatment did significantly reduce its magnitude. Exposure of cells to the inhibitor alone caused a time-dependent decrease in the basal rate of proline uptake. In the absence of protein synthesis, the maximal velocity (Vmax) of transport was 60% greater in cultures treated with 24 nM bPTH-(1-34) than in controls. The concentration of proline at which half-maximal transport occurred (Km) was unchanged. In cultures treated with cycloheximide alone, proline transport decreased as a first-order exponential with a half-life of 250-280 min. Parathyroid hormone significantly reduced this decline, increasing the half-life of proline transport activity about fourfold. These effects were duplicated by 1 mM DBcAMP. It is concluded that bPTH-(1-34) increases proline transport in osteoblastlike cells by decreasing the degradation of amino acid transport system A proteins. The hormone may also affect the synthesis of these molecules. These effects appear to be mediated by cAMP.

Nonisotopic evaluation of collagen in fibroblasts cultures

A method for the evaluation of collagen concentrations in the medium of fibroblasts in culture was developed. Collagen was precipitated with other proteins by addition of ethanol and hydrolyzed by 6 M HCl. The primary amino acids of the hydrolyzate were reacted with o-phthalaldehyde (OPA) and secondary amino acids (Pro, Hyp) were derivatized with 9-fluorenylmethyl-chloroformate (FMOC-Cl). The mixture was separated by isocratic HPLC on a reverse-phase column. FMOC-derivatives were detected by fluorometry, whereas OPA-derivatives were not. This method is suitable for the monitoring of collagen metabolism in fibroblast cultures exposed to various effectors.

Biosynthetic response of cartilage explants to dynamic compression

The biosynthetic response of calf articular cartilage explants to dynamic compression was examined over a wide range of amplitudes, waveforms, and frequencies. Glycosaminoglycan synthesis was assessed by 35S-sulfate incorporation, and amino acid uptake and protein synthesis were assessed by 3H-proline incorporation. Two culture chambers were designed to allow uniaxial radially unconfined compression and mechanical testing of cartilage disks: one chamber was used inside a standard incubator; the other was used with a mechanical spectrometer and allowed load and displacement to be monitored during compression. Dynamic stiffness measurements of 3-mm diameter disks identified a characteristic frequency [0.001 Hz (cycles/sec)] that separated low- and high-frequency regimes in which different flow and deformation phenomena predominated; e.g., at 0.0001-0.0001 Hz, significant fluid was exuded from cartilage disks, whereas at 0.01-1 Hz, hydrostratic pressure increased within disks. At the higher frequencies, oscillatory strains of only approximately 1-5% stimulated 3H-proline and 35S-sulfate incorporation by approximately 20-40%. In contrast, at the lower frequencies (a) compressions of less than 5% had no effect, consistent with the dosimetry of biosynthetic inhibition by static compression (approximately 25% compression caused a approximately 20% inhibition of radiolabel incorporation), and (b) higher amplitudes (cycling between disk thicknesses of 1.25 and 0.88-1.00 mm) stimulated 3S-sulfate incorporation by approximately 20-40%, consistent with the kinetics of response to a single 2-h compression and release. None of the compression protocols was associated with detectable alterations in (e.g., compression-induced depletion of) total glycosaminoglycan content. This study provides a framework for identifying both the physical and biological mechanisms by which dynamic compression can modulate chondrocyte biosynthesis. In addition, the culture and compression methodology potentially allows in vitro evaluation of clinical strategies of continuous passive motion therapy to stimulate cartilage remodeling.

Streptozotocin-induced diabetes and the rat periodontium: decreased relative collagen production

This is the first study concerning the extent to which relative collagen production (RCP) in rat periodontal tissues is affected by diabetes. Determination of RCP, rather than individual production rates for collagen or for non-collagen protein, was deemed necessary because saturation of all proline pools in tissues of diabetics (and non-diabetic controls) was not achieved. Such non-saturation occurred despite the injection of a pool-expanding dose of proline (400-1150 mg/rat), non-saturation indicated by the lesser specific radioactivity (S.R.) of free-[3H]proline in tissues than that of the injected solution. RCP was decreased in five periodontal tissues (incisor and molar gingiva, incisor and molar periodontal ligament, antemolar palatal mucosa) and in skin. Diabetes-decreased RCP seems to result from decreased collagen synthesis and increased intracellular degradation, although some evidence is presented for increased extracellular degradation of recently secreted collagen.