1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 stimulates avian and mammalian cartilage growth in vitro.

We addressed the question of whether 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-(OH)2D) could directly stimulate cartilage growth in vitro. Pelvic leaflets from chick embryos and scapular growth plates from fetal pigs were organ cultured in serum-free medium in the presence and absence of 1,25-(OH)2D. After 3 days of incubation, 1,25-(OH)2D had increased the pelvic cartilage wet weight 42% and the dry weight 32% above the weight of cartilages incubated in medium alone. 1,25-(OH)2D (10(-9) M-10(-12) M) caused a dose-dependent increase in weight, with maximal increases at 10(-9) M. Furthermore, two deuterized derivatives of 1,25-(OH)2D, 26,27-D6-1,25-(OH)2D3 and 24,26,27-D8-1,25-(OH)2D3, stimulated pelvic cartilage growth in vitro. 26,27-D6-1,25-(OH)2D stimulated increases in growth plate weight above growth plates incubated in medium alone. 26,27-D6-1,25-(OH)2D3 appeared to be potent at lower concentrations than 1,25-(OH)2D on growth plate cartilage. Thus, 1,25-(OH)2D stimulated in vitro growth in two growing cartilage models, the avian pelvic cartilage and the mammalian scapular growth plate cartilage.

Duke Scholars

Author Warner Miller Burch Jr. Medicine, Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Nutrition