Figure 1

CNP enhances endochondral bone growth. Mouse E15.5 tibiae were harvested and cultured for six days in the presence of vehicle, CNP at the indicated concentrations, membrane-permeable 8-(4-cpt) cGMP (0.1 mM), the non-specific PDE inhibitor IBMX (0.1 mM), or a selective inhibitor of PDE I, 8-methooxymethyl, IBMX (10 μM). After six days in culture, vehicle and CNP-treated (1 μM) bones were stained with Alcian Blue and Alizarin Red and representative images are shown, in comparison to a freshly isolated tibia (A). Growth of tibiae over the culture period at indicated concentrations of CNP and treatments was measured (B, D), and the weight of bones was determined (C). CNP, 8-(4-cpt) cGMP and IBMX stimulated tibia growth, when compared to control conditions. E15.5 tibiae were isolated under three different conditions: perichondrium was left intact with very loose dissection, perichondrium was removed with dispase, and perichondrium was removed mechanically (E). Bones were then incubated with or without CNP (1 μM) for six days and bone growth was determined as change in bone length relative to day 1. Removal of the perichondrium did not influence the stimulatory effect of CNP on bone growth. All data represent means ± SD of three or four independent trials (p < 0.05).