Abstract: To investigate effect of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on proteoglycan synthesis of rabbit articular chondrocyte culture in vitro, chondrocytes were isolated from articular cartilage of 1～3 day old new Zealand rabbits. Chondrocytes were seeded at a density of 2×10⁴cells/mL in 10 mL 1640 medium supplemented with 2% fetal calf serum (FCS). Some slices were laid in culture flask before seeding chondrocytes. When chondrocytes were at confluence, mediums were replaced for chondrocytes and made half of mediums containing 10μg/L of bFGF. After 2 h culture, cells were exposed to Na₂³⁵SO₄ for 24 h, then the rates of incorporation of ³⁵SO₄^2- were measured and morphological appearance of chondrocyte monolayers were observed under light microscope and electron microscope. There was more amount of incorporation of ³⁵SO₄^2- in chondrocyte culture grown in the presence of bFGF than that in the absence of bFGF( P< 0.01). Proteoglycan of chondrocyte monolayers was stained deeper in the presence of bFGF. In conclusion, bFGF exerts a strong effect on stimulating proteoglycan synthesis.

Key words: bFGF, chondrocyte, cell culture, proteoglycan