Abstract:

Objective      To build new cartilage tissues by means of co-cultures of rabbit mesenchymal-derived cartilage seed cells and allograft acellular cartilage cells in vitro, and to provide scientific basis for repair and reconstruction of organ defects. Methods     Rabbit peripheral blood stem cells were extracted and induced in vitro for 14 days. Then, cartilage seed cells were harvested. Characteristics of cell growth were observed under an inverted phase contrast microscope. Toluidine blue and Type Ⅱ collagen immunocytochemistry staining were applied on cellular creep plates. Acellular allogenic rib cartilage was obtained by the detergent-enzyme method. Composite cartilage was collected after 7 days of co-culturing of cartilage seed cells and acellular allogenic cartilage in vitro. Acellular cartilage and composite cartilage were fixed with HE and toluidine blue staining for observation, as well as scanning electron micrographs(SME). Results      After 14 days of induction, lots of chondrocytespecific type Ⅱ collagens were expressed in the cytoplasm of rabbit peripheral blood mesenchymal stem cells. Rabbit acellular allogenic cartilage  was milky white andintegrally structured, in which the pores were homogeneous and large amounts of acid mucopolysaccharide and collagen remained. The porosity was (61.31±8.45)% and aperture length was (32.80±5.15) μm. Chondrocytes well adhered to the stent, and large amounts of matrix were secreted by the composite cartilage. Conclusion      Cartilage tissue can be constructed by means of co-culturing of mesenchyma-derived cartilage seed cells and acellular allogenic cartilage in vitro, which may provide an experimental basis for organ defect repair and reconstruction.

Key words: Mesenchymal; Induction; Acellular; Cartilage tissue