Regional and temporal changes in the synthesis of matrix metalloproteinases and TIMP-1 during development of the rabbit mandibular condyle.

Connective tissues synthesise and secrete a family of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs; collagenases, gelatinases and stromelysins) capable of degrading all the components of connective tissue matrices at physiological pH. We document the patterns of synthesis and distribution of MMPs and the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) within the developing rabbit mandibular condyle using immunofluorescence microscopy. MMPs and TIMP-1 were detected both as bright intracellular accumulations within Golgi vesicles and also as diffuse matrix-bound extracellular deposits. Cells in the articular zone, proliferative zone, condylar cartilage and bone of the mandibular ramus were shown to produce all 3 classes of MMPs and TIMP-1 with the exception of stromelysin, which was not synthesised by cells of the bone of spongiosum. Temporal synthesis of MMPs and TIMP-1 within these regions varied during the period 18 d postcoitum to 14 d postnatum. Our results document unique patterns of MMP and TIMP-1 synthesis during embryonic and early postnatal development of condylar cartilage and support the concept that cells synthesise and secrete MMPs and TIMP-1 before undergoing proliferation and hypertrophy. A comparison of these results with data in the rabbit growth plate show many similarities, but some differences exist that probably reflect differences in the modes of growth of the 2 cartilages.