title: Low temperature scanning electron microscopy of the superficial envelope of canine chondrocytes in culture.
abstract: Low temperature scanning electron microscopy (LTSEM) has been employed to examine the surface morphology of chondrocyte cultures on ceramic granules. Well-established cultures on porous hydroxyapatite consist of ceramic cores overlaid and interspersed with a cellular matrix of collagen and proteoglycan (Cheung, 1985); of especial interest is the superficial layer of cells. These cells are believed, on the basis of immuno-light microscopy (Gardner et al., 1987), to be coated by an hydrated porous envelope of collagen/proteoglycan which is likely to obscure cell outlines. This relationship is confirmed by enzymic digestion of the superficial material. Post-digestion LTSEM examination of the fully hydrated preparations establishes the existence of arrays of rounded structures identified as superficial cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathological Sciences, Withington Hospital, University of Manchester, U.K.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Lawton
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Lamaletie
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Gardner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000166:cytology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002452:Cell Count; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002470:Cell Survival; D004285:Dogs; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D013696:Temperature