Electron microscopic studies on the uptake of exogenous marker particles by different cell types in the guinea pig metaphysis.

Guinea pig metaphyseal bone was exposed to horse spleen ferritin in vitro and to colloidal thorium dioxide in vivo. The cellular uptake and intracellular accumulation of these marker particles were studied ultrastructurally. In vitro, the ferritin molecules were found to spread evely throughout the tissue. After 1-2 hours ferritin was mainly found in plasma membrane invaginations and in endocytic vesicles of varying size. At 4-6 hours a successive accumulation of the marker in secondary lysosomes could be observed. In addition to ferritin, the lysosomes and the large endocytic vesicles often contained other inclusions. In vivo, the pattern of intracellular accumulation of the marker particles was identical to that in vitro. Moreover, the presence within the cells of similar amounts of thorium dioxide after 1 and 4 days suggested that these indigestible molecules are stored intracellularly for a considerable time. In accordance therewith there were no definite signs of extrusion of labeled bodies or secretion of the exogenous marker by exocytosis. Ferritin and thorium dioxide were taken up by all cell types in the metaphysis. Both in vitro and in vivo perivascular cells type B ingested large amounts of marker particles, whereas chondroclasts, endothelial cells. perivascular cells type A and osteoblasts showed a more restricted endocytizing ability. On the basis of these observations, the functional significance of different cell types in the resorption of the epiphyseal cartilage and the formation of bone is discussed.