An immunohistochemical study of the distribution of matrical proteins in the mandibular condyle of neonatal mice. II. Non-collagenous proteins.

This study has illustrated the localisation of several non-collagenous proteins in the extracellular matrix of neonatal condylar cartilage (chondrocalcin, proteoglycans and a 100 kDa protein). Also, it has been shown that chondrocytes synthesise laminin and anchorin CII. The bone trabeculae in the primary spongiosa reacted positively for chondrocalcin, osteopontin and BMP. The cartilaginous wealth of collagens (Type I, II, VI, IX, X and XI), together with the various non-collagenous proteins, are considered to possess an important role in the maintenance of chondrogenic expression as well as in the regulation of cartilage differentiation by means of an interaction with the undifferentiated precursor cells.