Long-term effects of articular cartilage derived scaffold/autologous chondrocytes composites for repairing full-thickness defects of knee articular cartilage in rabbits / 中国矫形外科杂志

ABSTRACT

[Objective]To observe the histological characteristics of autologous chondrocytes/human articular cartilage derived scaffold (HACDS) composites for repairing chondral defects in rabbit models. [Methods]A full-thickness articular-cartilage defect (diameter 4 mm,thickness 2 mm) was created in the femoral condyle of rabbits. The rabbits were divided into two groups control group,HACDS scaffold only,and experimental group,chondrocytes/HACDS scaffold. Fifteen months after implantation,the specimens were observed by inverted phase contrast microscopy,and assessed by staining with haematoxylin-eosin,alcian blue,toluidine blue,safranin O,as well as by the immunohistochemistry of collagen type Ⅱ.[Results]Histologically,the generated neo-cartilage integrated well with its surrounding normal cartilage and subchondral bone in the defects of experimental group at 15 months post-implantation,whereas only fibrous tissue was filled in the defects of control group. Histochemical and immunohistochemical analysis revealed that alcian blue,toluidine blue,safranin,and were obviously positive in the experimental groups. However,alcian blue,toluidine blue,and safranino O were negative in the control group.[Conclusion]The current histological examination demonstrated that an engineered cartilage composed of autologous chondrocytes on HACDS scaffold could be successfully obtained and further applied to repair an articular cartilage defect in a rabbit model.