Influence of beta-aminoproprionitrile (BAPN) on cell growth and elastic fiber formation in cultures of auricular chondrocytes.

Auricular chondrocytes isolated from 4-day-old rabbits and grown in vitro for 14 days, proliferated rapidly and produced a conspicuous network of elastic fibers. Beta-aminoproprionitrile (BAPN), which in vivo inhibits cross-linking of elastin, decreased the formation of elastic fibers at a concentration of 10-20 micrograms/ml and prevented formation at 40 micrograms/ml. At a concentration of 5 micrograms/ml only the so-called patches of elastin appeared to be absent. The inhibitory effect of BAPN on cell growth did not exceed 10%, which indicates that BAPN is only slightly harmful to auricular chondrocytes and can safely be used in studies on elastin deposition by these cells in vitro.