Lipid distribution, composition and uptake in bovine articular cartilage studied using Raman micro-spectrometry and confocal microscopy.

The distribution and composition of endogenous lipids in articular cartilage and transport of exogenous fatty acids have been investigated on a microscopic scale in fresh bovine articular cartilage. To investigate the distribution and composition of the endogenous lipids, hyperspectral Raman maps were taken of chondrocytes and their surrounding matrix in both the deep and superficial zones. These revealed differences in both lipid distribution and composition between the two zones. Extracellular lipid was observed surrounding the cells in the superficial zone but not in the deep zone. Additionally, intracellular lipid droplets were observed that were larger and more numerous in the deep zone (P = 0.01). The extracellular lipid was primarily free saturated fatty acid, whereas the cellular lipid droplets contained triglycerides with unsaturated fatty acid chains. Fatty acid uptake and transport were investigated by incubating cartilage samples in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium containing fluorescently labelled palmitate for a range of times and temperatures. After incubation, the palmitate distribution was imaged using confocal microscopy. Palmitate accumulated preferentially in the territorial matrix only in the superficial zone where the concentration was up to 100-fold greater than that in the bulk matrix (P = 0.001). Palmitate uptake by the chondrocytes in both zones showed differential temperature sensitivity (P = 0.05), which would support the idea that cells take up palmitate by both active and passive mechanisms. The study reveals large differences between chondrocytes in the superficial and deep zones in their lipid content, in their extracellular lipid environment and in their access to exogenous fatty acids.