title: The potential of adult human perichondrium to form hyalin cartilage in vitro.
abstract: The usefulness of adult human perichondrium for the restoration of articular cartilage defects depends on the potential to form hyalin cartilage. In order to evaluate the capacity of adult human perichondrium to form hyalin cartilage in vitro, perichondrium of the rib of eight adult human beings was cultured in vitro. After removal of residual cartilage, perichondrial explants were cultured for 7 or 10 days. The explants were histologically examined using specific stains to prove the presence of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) normal for hyalin cartilage. Clear differentiation of perichondrial cells towards chondrocytes was noted. The chondrocytes synthesized new matrix substances normally present in hyalin cartilage. This investigation supports the usefulness of adult human rib perichondrium for the restoration of cartilage defects. Due to the enormous potential of the rib perichondrium to form hyalin cartilage in vitro, even defects in joints with a rather thick cartilage layer might be restored using this biological material.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Limburg, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Bulstra
authors.forename: G N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Homminga
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Buurman
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Terwindt-Rouwenhorst
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: van der Linden
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001345:Autoradiography; D002356:Cartilage / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D003239:Connective Tissue Cells; D006801:Humans; D007596:Joints / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D012272:Ribs / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D014316:Tritium
chemical_list: D014316:Tritium; D013936:Thymidine