[Repair of meniscal defects with autologous tissue-engineered fibrocartilage].
OBJECTIVE
To repair critical-sized meniscal defects in an immunocompetent mammal by tissue engineering approach.


METHODS
15 45-day-old Changfeng crossbred pigs were selected as experimental animals. Autologous fibrochondrocytes were obtained from left knee menisci by modified Klagsbrun's method and were proliferated in vitro to a proper amount. A 1-cm-long full-layer defect of right medial meniscus was created anterior to the medial collateral ligament. PGA-fibrochondrocyte-Pluronic complex, fibrochondrocyte-Pluronic complex or PGA only was respectively implanted into the defects. We used intact menisci and untreated meniscal defects as controls. Samples respectively obtained in 9 w, 16 w and 25 w were appraised by general observation, histology, biochemistry and biomechanics.


RESULTS
From the sights of general morphology, histological structure and Young's Modulus (59.7% of that in normal meniscus at 25 w), the PGA-cell-Pluronic complex can form the best quality tissue, which can stabilize the GAG ratio (74.5% of that in normal cartilage at 25 w) of femoral entocondyle cartilage.


CONCLUSIONS
Autologous tissue-engineered fibrocartilage is a promising feasible method to regenerate or reconstruct menisci so as to hold back the degenerative changes of the knee.
Cui
Yimin
Y
Tissue Engineering Research Center of Shanghai Second Medical University, Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai No. 9 People's Hospital, Affiliated to Shanghai Second Medical University, Shanghai 200011, China.
Cao
Yilin
Y
Shang
Qingxin
Q
Cui
Lei
L
Liu
Wei
W
D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002356:Cartilage / Q000637:transplantation*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D017690:Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000637:transplantation*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000637:transplantation*; D020442:Poloxamer; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D013552:Swine; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous / Q000379:methods*
D020442:Poloxamer; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid