Effect of loading environment on the human osteochondral allograft preserved by tissue culture / 中华创伤杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the effect of the loading environment on the chondrocytes and the collagen ultrastructure at articular cartilage of the osteochondral allograft graft preserved by tissue culture method so as to improve the preservation effect. Methods A kind of shaking table was used as a dynamic loading device for storage of the osteochondral allograft to simulate the mechanical environment of normal articular cartilage in vivo. The device worked in an incubator at 3711 and the frequency was 1Hz. Western blotting was used for analysis of β-actin at the articular cartilage of the graft for investigating the effects of stress condition on the chondrocyte function. Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe the collagen ultrastructure at the articular cartilage of the graft two weeks after storage and compared with the control group. Results The dynamic loading condition could significantly increase the expression of β-actin and keep the ultrastructure of the collagen fibril in articular cartilage compared with the static condition. Conclusions The loading condition benefits the chondrocyte function and collagen ultrastructure of the articular cartilage in human osteochondral allograft. The dynamic mechanical loading may provide a better method in preservation of the human osteochondral allograft.