The Effect of Growth Hormone on C-Myc Proto-Oncogene Expression in Chondrocytes

Overview

The purpose of this project was to test whether growth hormone could directly affect the rate at which cartilage renews itself. The direct effect that the growth hormone should have on cartilage or chondrocytes comes from the expression of c-myc proto-oncogene which in return increases the proliferation rate of the cells. This is instead of an indirect effect which comes from the growth hormone stimulation insulin-like growth factor. The assay used to test if growth hormone increases proliferation rate in chondrocytes was a cell counting assay. This assay uses trypan blue to stain dead cells and a hemocytometer to count viable cells. The assay used to test if growth hormone directly affects h proliferation was a Collagen IgG assay. This assay tests for the concentration of collagen type II present in a sample. Collagen is a product that is produced when c-myc prot-oncogene is expressed and is also a major component in the extracellular matrix. The results from these assays supported the hypothesis that growth hormone not only increases proliferation rate but does so using the direct pathway. Out of the different levels of growth hormone that were tested it was found that 3 microliters had the greatest effect since those samples had th highest collagen concentrations and became confluent in T75cm^2 cell culture flasks in the least amount of time. This research can be used in the medical research for patients who suffer from joint damage and other cartilage related disorders since the results show increased proliferation with using a more efficient pathway.

Competition history

• AJAS 2020 Category not listed

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