Chondrogenic Effect of Transplanted Type I Collagen Scaffold within Subperichondrial Cartilage Defect

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this research is to find out the degree of cartilage regeneration by inserting the atelo- collagen scaffold obtained from dermis of a calf on cartilage defect site. Dissection underneath the perichondrium by the periosteal elevator on both side of ears of six New Zealand white rabbits were made to expose the cartilage, leaving pairs of circular holes 3, 6, 9 mm width with punches. One hole was left for a control, and on the other hole atelo-collagen scaffold of the same size was transplanted. In postoperative 1, 2, 4 weeks, the tissues were dyed. The length of long axis of neocartilage was measured through an optical microscope with a 0.1mm graduation at original magnification, x40. In the first and second week, both group showed no sign of cartilage regeneration. In the fourth week, regeneration on marginal portions was observed on all groups and the average values of length of long axis of neocartilage according to defect size were as follows In the cases with 3mm defect, it was 0.85+/-0.30mm in the control group, and 1.85+/-0.38mm in the graft group; in the cases with 6 mm defect, 1.33+/-0.58mm in the control group, and 2.25+/-0.46mm in the graft group; and in the cases with 9mm defect, 2.33+/-0.77mm in the control group, and 4.47+/-1.39mm in the graft group. This means that the collagen scaffold has an influence on the regeneration of neocartilage. But the relative ratio of the length of neocartilage to cartilage defect size was not significant in the statistics.