Arachidonate metabolism during chondrogenesis in vitro.

Chick embryo limb bud mesenchyme cells undergoing chondrogenesis in vitro were labeled with [3H] arachidonic acid and [14C] palmitic acid, and stimulated by mechanical means to convert a portion of their incorporated [3H] to radiolabeled compounds which co-chromatographed with authentic prostaglandins in the appropriate thin layer chromatography system. Chondrogenesis was (1) inhibited by concentrations of indomethacin or eicosa-5,8,11,14-tetraynoic acid which inhibited conversion of [3H] to prostaglandinlike compounds; and (2) stimulated by prostaglandin E2. We interpret these data to mean that (1) cells undergoing chondrogenesis in vitro are able to metabolize endogenous arachidonic acid to prostaglandins, and (2) synthesis of prostaglandinlike compounds is requisite to chondrogenesis in vitro.