Colin Farquharson

Excretion of pyridinium cross-links of collagen in ovariectomized rats as urinary markers for increased bone resorption

SummaryGroups of 19-day-old rats were ovariectomized or were given sham operations. Measurements in urine of the pyridinium cross-links of collagen, pyridinoline and deoxypyridinoline, 7 weeks after surgery showed significantly higher amounts of cross-links relative to creatinine in the ovariectomized groups compared with the controls. Analyses before and after acid hydrolysis of the urine revealed that the increased excretion was only as free cross-link with no change in the concentrations of the bound forms. The loss of trabecular bone in the ovariectomized group was confirmed by immunocytochemical staining with antibodies to type I collagen. There were no differences between the ovariectomized and control groups in the concentrations of cross-links in the tibial bone or the articular cartilage. Measurements of free pyridinoline and deoxypyridinoline in urine therefore appear to provide a good index of the increased bone resorption induced by estrogen deficiency.

The effects of copper deficiency on the pyridinium crosslinks of mature collagen in the rat skeleton and cardiovascular system

Abstract The 3-hydroxypyridinium crosslinks of collagen were quantified in tissues of the skeleton and cardiovascular system of normal and copper-deficient rats. The copper-deficient rats used in this study displayed retarded growth, cardiac hypertrophy, anemia, and lowered liver copper concentrations. Quantification of the crosslinks by high performance liquid chromatography indicated that there were lower concentrations of collagen crosslinks in the hearts of copper-deficient animals, a finding that was manifest in both right and left ventricles. This was in contrast to the collagen of the aorta where no alteration in crosslink concentration was observed. The femoral diaphysis of copper-deficient rats also had lower amounts of collagen crosslinks than copper-supplemented animals, whereas crosslinking in the tibial diaphysis and articular cartilage was relatively unaffected by copper deficiency. These results are discussed with reference to the cardiac and skeletal abnormalities that occur in copper-deficient animals.

Immunolocalization of collagen types I and III in the arterial wall of the rat

SummaryCollagen types I and III were located by immunofluorescence procedures in the aorta and coronary arteries of the rat. Type I collagen was most prevalent in the adventitia of the aorta with only small amounts present in the intima and media. Type III collagen appeared to be a significant component in the media of the aorta and also in the adventitia of both blood vessels. The intima and media of the coronary arteries did not stain strongly for either type I or III collagen. Neither staining procedure was altered with preincubation of the sections with hyaluronidase or chondroitinase ABC. These studies indicate that type III collagen is a major component of the adventitia which has previously not been recognized by immunohistochemical techniques, possibly due to masking of collagen staining with glycosaminoglycans.

Immunohistochemical localization of native and denatured collagen types I and II in fetal and adult rat long bones

Collagen turnover during rat long bone development and growth was investigated using immunofluorescence methods with specific polyclonal antibodies against native (triple helix) and denatured (breakdown products) forms of type I and II collagen. Labeling of cryostat sections with anti-native and denatured collagen type II antibodies resulted in a positive staining throughout the cartilage matrix of fetal and adult long bones. Likewise, native and denatured type I collagen could be detected in mineralized and non-mineralized bone matrix. Moreover, labeling with anti-denatured type I antibody evoked a strong intracellular staining of osteoblasts, but not of osteocytes. Denatured type I was also localized intra-pericellularly in the small chondrocytes comprising the primitive cartilage cores and the epiphyses of older long bones. On the other hand, apart from its localization in the cartilage matrix, denatured type II collagen was found specifically within the chondrocytes. These observations indicate that a continuous turnover of the major collagen types takes place in fetal and adult rat long bone tissue. Degradation of collagen apparently occurs intra- and extracellularly, and is mainly independent of the presence and activity of osteoclasts. The presence of denatured type I collagen in cartilage suggests that chondrocytes synthesize small amounts of type I collagen, which is immediately degraded to a denatured form.

Mitogenic action of insulin-like growth factor-I on human osteosarcoma MG-63 cells and rat osteoblasts maintained in situ: the role of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase

The mechanisms involved in the mitogenic actions of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) on skeletal cells are at present unclear. We have investigated the role of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) in this mechanism and provide strong evidence that stimulation of G6PD activity is required for the growth promoting activities of IGF-I. IGF-I (10 ng/ml) significantly elevated G6PD activity in MG-63 human osteosarcoma cells within 30 min which preceded the IGF-I induced DNA synthesis in these cells. Inhibition of G6PD activity by epiandrosterone decreased DNA synthesis in IGF-I stimulated MG-63 cells but this was partly overcome by the addition of a combination of the four deoxyribonucleosides. IGF-I did not cause a general increase in cell metabolism as succinate dehydrogenase and iso-citrate dehydrogenase activity were not altered. Although IGF-I caused a significant increase in lactate dehydrogenase activity this was not inhibited by epiandrosterone. The culture of metatarsals of 4-week-old rats with IGF-I (10 ng/ml) also stimulated G6PD activity in osteoblasts lining the metaphyseal trabeculae.

Endogenous mediators of growth

In the present review it is not possible to discuss the effects of the numerous endogenous mediators of growth. What we have attempted to do is to indicate the areas of controversy and the need for further research. In our view, four main questions arise. First, what are the relative contributions of the direct and indirect effects of GH? Indeed, if GH can produce all its effects by local production of IGF, is the original somatomedin hypothesis still tenable? Second, how is the biological activity of the IGF modified by the presence of binding proteins? Because of the role of binding proteins in modulating IGF bioactivity, care must be taken when interpreting results from immunoassays for IGF because this will only represent the concentration of IGF not the level of biological activity, a situation which is analogous to that which pertains with certain polypeptide hormones (for review, see Robertson et al. 1987). Third, how are the activities of the osteoblast and osteoclast coupled so that in the mature adult, bone formation and bone resorption are roughly equivalent? Understanding of this process will undoubtedly involve the elucidation of the roles and interactions between a number of locally acting growth factors and systemic hormones and will lead to the understanding of certain metabolic bone diseases such as osteoporosis. Last, how is the response to local stimuli such as mechanical stress transduced? This is again probably dependent on the activity of local growth factors but may also involve changes in the interactions between bone cells and their underlying matrix components (Skerry et al. 1988).

Female Rats Are Susceptible to Cardiac Hypertrophy Induced by Copper Deficiency: The Lack of Influence of Estrogen and Testosterone

Abstract In contrast to a previous report (Fields M, Lewis C, Scholfield DJ, Powell AS, Rose AJ, Reiser S, Smith, JC. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 183:145-149, 1986), female rats were shown to be susceptible to copper (Cu) deficiency giving rise to restriction of growth, cardiac hypertrophy, and anemia. The severity of these effects was, however, found to be less marked than in the male rats which had similar liver Cu levels. Castration or ovariectomy of Cu-deficient rats had little effect on CH or the other parameters associated with Cu deficiency, and supplementation of the neutered animals with estrogen or testosterone was similarly without effect. The ultrastructural appearance of the hypertrophied Cu-deficient female heart was similar to that previously found in males and was characterized by a large increase in mitochondrial area with disrupted cristae. The results also indicated that in contrast to Cu-deficient males iron (Fe) was not accumulated in the liver of the Cu-deficient female rats. It may be concluded that the limited protection of female rats to the effects of Cu deficiency observed in this study were unconnected with the sex Steroids.

The effects of reserpine upon the cardiac enlargement of copper deficiency.

Abstract Copper (Cu) deficiency, induced in rats by suckling from Cu-deficient dams and by offering a semisynthetic low-Cu diet from weaning, resulted in cardiac enlargement. This enlargement was not due to accumulation of excess fluid in the heart but was characterized by mitochondrial hypertrophy as demonstrated by electron microscopy and biochemical studies. Administration of reserpine limited the extent of cardiac enlargement; however, heart total noradrenaline (NA), unchanged by Cu deficiency, was significantly reduced by reserpine. It was concluded that cardiac enlargement in Cu deficiency was not directly related to NA concentration. An alteration in cardiac energy status, however, was suggested by reduction in activity of the nonheme iron-dependent enzyme, succinic dehydrogenase.