Secondary ossification center induces and protects growth plate structure

• DOI: 10.7554/elife.55212
• Publication Date: 2020-10-16T12:00:32Z
• Authors: Meng Xie; Pavel Gol'din; Anna Nele Herdina; Jordi Estefa; Ekaterina V Medve...; Lei Li; Phillip T Newton; Svetlana Kotova; Boris Shavkuta; Aditya Saxena; Lauren T Shumate; Brian D Metscher; Karl Großschmidt; Shigeki Nishimori; Anastasia Akovant...; Anna P Usanova; Anastasiia D Kure...; Anoop Kumar; Irene Linares Arr...; Paul Tafforeau; Kaj Fried; Mattias Carlström; András Simon; Christian Gasser; Henry M Kronenberg; Murat Bastepe; Kimberly L Cooper; Peter Timashev; Sophie Sanchez; Igor Adameyko; Anders Eriksson; Andrei S Chagin
• Keywords: Ossification center; Endochondral ossification

Growth plate and articular cartilage constitute a single anatomical entity early in development but later separate into two distinct structures by the secondary ossification center (SOC). The reason for such separation remains unknown. We found that evolutionarily SOC appears animals conquering land - amniotes. Analysis of pattern mammals with specialized extremities (whales, bats, jerboa) revealed correlates extent mechanical loads. Mathematical modeling reduces stress within growth plate. Functional experiments high vulnerability hypertrophic chondrocytes to showed protects these cells from apoptosis caused extensive loading. Atomic force microscopy are least mechanically stiff Altogether, findings suggest has evolved protect encountered terrestrial environment.