Effect of colchicine and cytochalasin B on the secretion of proteochondroitin sulfate and protein-free chondroitin sulfate synthesized in cartilage slices.

Abstract

A possible role of microtubules and microfilaments in the secretion process of proteoglycan and protein-free glycosaminoglycan synthesized in slices of bovine nasal cartilage was examined by using colchicine as an antimicrotubular agent, cytochalasin B as a microfilament-modifying agent and 4-methylumbelliferyl .beta.-D-xyloside as an artificial initiator of glycosaminoglycan. The microtubule system was apparently partly involved in the secretion of proteochondroitin sulfate and protein-free chondroitin sulfate synthesized in chondrocytes. The microfilament system did not have any direct effect on this secretion process.