Zonal analysis of metabolic profiles of articular-epiphyseal cartilage chondrocytes: a histochemical study.

Articular-epiphyseal cartilage from the femur of New Zealand rabbits was subjected to histochemistry for determination of the presence of metabolic enzymes along its zonal stratification. Glycolytic enzymes were strongly reactive in all of the zones. Krebs cycle enzymes, enzymes of the hexose monophosphate shunt and the respiratory chain enzymes showed a progressive increase in reactivity from the tangential zone through the top half of the epiphyseal zone. Indicators of lipid metabolism were fairly high in all regions of the cartilage.