Growth of mandibular condylar cartilage (MCC) is associated with cell proliferation within the polymorphic cell layer and subsequent differentiation into chondrocytes that reside along the condylar surface and along the cartilage/subchondral bone interface. We examined whether cells in the polymorphic layer would proliferate and repopulate toxin-induced cell-depleted areas in MCCs of adult mice.
We induced diphtheria toxin (DTA) expression (ROSA26
Acan
In adult mice, after diphtheria toxin-mediated chondrocyte killing, cell depleted areas within MCC cartilage are not repopulated by new cells.