Abstract
Summary
1. X-irradiation of rachitic epiphyseal cartilage with 250,000 R resulted in small decrease in calcifiability, loss of β-metachromatic granules from some cells of the proliferative zone, and a slight general decrease in staining of the hypertrophic zone. X-irradiation with 500,000 R resulted in marked decrease in calcifiability, loss of most of the β-metachromatic granules from some cells of the proliferative zone, and loss of β-metachromatic granules from some cells of the hypertrophic zone. X-irradiation with 1,000,000 R resulted in almost complete loss of both calcifiability and stainability with toluidine blue. 2. Toluidine blue staining of fresh sections of epiphyseal cartilage was employed for demonstration of metachromatic substances. 3. Once the process of calcification had been initiated, the inactivating effect of irradiation on calcifiability was considerably reduced. 4. A change in mucopolysaccharide resulting in increase of free electronegative groups is a factor associated with calcifiability of epiphyseal cartilage.
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