ABSTRACT
砄bjective: To establish an immortalized chondrocyte cell line derived from rabbit mandibular condyle without loss of chondrocyte phenotype. Methods: SV 40 large T antigen gene was conducted into primarily cultured mandibualr condylar chondrocytes (MCCs) of 1-2 week old New Zealand rabbits using an recombinant retroviral vector's transfecting method. After cultured in selective medium containing 400 ?g/ml G418 for 3 weeks, colonies were isolated and expanded for further study. Slot blot analysis was used to detect the transcript of type I and type II collagen of the transgenic cells. Results: One of the positive clones had been maintained for 100 passages for nearly one and half year, without any sign of senescence, and termed immortalized mandibular condylar chondrocyte (IMCC). Transcripts of pro ?1 ( I ) and ?1 ( II ) collagen was observed in IMCCs and MCCs by RNA blot. Conclusion: IMCC is an immortalized chondrocyte cell line derived from rabbit mandibular condyle and might be a good model for studying the biological character of MCC.