Proteoglycan synthesis by chondrocytes cultured under hydrostatic pressure and perfusion

The direct effect of hydrostatic pressure on proteoglycan synthesis in cultured chondrocytes was examined using a specially designed system for applying hydrostatic pressure. Chondrocytes were isolated from bovine articular cartilage and seeded on cover glasses coated with type I collagen. The cover glasses were suspended in a column which allowed continuous positive hydrostatic pressure at 2.8 MPa and medium perfusion at 0.3 ml/min, during 96 h. Accumulations of keratan sulfate proteoglycan and chondroitin 4-sulfate proteoglycan increased 1.2- and 1.8-fold, respectively, compared with static condition. These results suggest that continuous hydrostatic pressure and medium perfusion promote keratan sulfate proteoglycan and chondroitin 4-sulfate proteoglycan syntheses by cultured chondrocytes.