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Ultrastructural observations on the inorganic/organic rellationships in early cartilage calcification

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Abstract

The organic phase (or crystallite ghost) associated with each crystallite, together with the background material associated with each crystallite cluster, was demonstrated in calcified cartilage using basic chromium sulphate as a combined fixative, stain, and demineralizing agent. Subsequent treatment of the tissue with papain, or with hyaluronidase, suggests that the crystallite ghosts represented a protein-polysaccharide complex and that the background material was principally protein together with some acid polysaccharide. The relationship between inorganic and organic phases is discussed.

Résumé

La phase organique (ou fantôme des cristaux) associéc à chaque cristal, ainsi que la substance de base associée à chaque cristal, ainsi que la substance de base associée à chaque amas cristallin, sont mises en évidence au niveau du cartilage calcifié en utilisant le sulfate de chrome basique comme agent de fixation, de coloration et de déminéralisation. Le traitement ultérieur du tissu, à l'aide de papaïne ou d'hyaluronidase, indique que les fantômes cristallins constitutent un complexe protéino-polysaccharidique et que la substance de base est formée par une protéine associée à un polysaccharide acide. Les rapports entre phases inorganique et organique sont discutés.

Zusammenfassung

Die organische Phase (oder Kristallit-Schatten), die zu jedem Kristallit gehört, sowie das Hintergrundmaterial, das zu jeder Kristallitgruppe gehört, wurden in calcifiziertem Knorpel sichtbar gemacht. Zu diesem Zweck wurde basisches Chromsulfat als ein kombiniertes Fixierungs-, Färbe- und Demineralisierungsmittel verwendet. Nachfolgende Behandlung des Gewebes mit Papain oder Hyaluronidase läßt vermuten, daß die Kristallitschatten einen Proteinpolysaccharidkomplex darstellen und daß das Hintergrundmaterial hauptsächlich aus Protein mit einigen sauren Polysacchariden besteht. Die Beziehung zwischen anorganischen und organischen Phasen wird diskutiert.

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  1. School of Dental Surgery, University of Liverpool, Pembroke Place, P. O. Box 147, L69 3BX, Liverpool, England

    J. Appleton

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Appleton, J. Ultrastructural observations on the inorganic/organic rellationships in early cartilage calcification. Calc. Tis Res. 7, 307–317 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02062620

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