ABSTRACT
Objective To analyze the effects of 2D culture and micropellet culture on the chondrocyte phenotype . Methods High density 2D culture and micropellet culture were used to culture rabbit chondrocytes ,the cell morphology and level of matrix expression were measured .Results After 2 weeks of 2D high density culture ,multilayer chondrocyte distribution was ob‐served .HE staining showed that the cells were round in shape ,and were closely connected with each other ,alcian blue staining showed that the secretion of proteoglycan was low ;after 2 weeks of micropellet culture ,cartilage‐like white tissue was formed .HE staining showed that the cells were polygonal in shape ,and were sparsely distributed ,alcian blue staining showed that the secretion of proteoglycan was significantly higher than that in 2D culture(P<0 .05) .Conclusion Using micropellet to culture rabbit chon‐drocytes is favorable for the secretion of extracellular matrix .