Relationship between the cartilage canal and the perichondrium in the rat proximal tibial epiphysis.

One of the most widespread hypotheses for chondral canal morphogenesis suggests that the canal is an extension of the perichondrium. To study the possible relation between perichondrium and chondral canal morphology, the proximal epiphyses in the tibias of 42 rats were studied from birth to their 29th day. The study was divided into three periods: from birth to the 4th day before canal appearance; from the 5th day, the moment of canal appearance, until the appearance of the secondary ossification center of the epiphysis on the 9th day; the 3rd ran from this point on the 10th day until its full development. We have also divided the canal into three regions: entrance, neck and bottom. The central portion (lumen) and canal wall were analyzed in each region. Our results show the perichondrium to be a complex structure, composed of a series of cellular layers in a biphasic extracellular matrix (eosinophil and basophil). The canal walls are lined by a layer of elongated cells. In the lumen there are many different cell types: fibroblasts, histiocytes, multinuclear giant cells and multivacuolated cells. Our study of the canal, its walls and lumen show no morphological structure that is reminiscent of the perichondrium. These results suggest that the canal is not itself a continuation of the perichondrium.