Chondrocyte repopulation of allograft cartilage: a preliminary investigation and strategy for developing cartilage matrices for reconstruction.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the ability of devitalized cartilage to sustain repopulation by allogenic chondrocytes and to use 2-photon microscopy to assess cultured chondrocyte viability.


METHODS
At an academic medical center, we conducted experimental analysis of lagomorph nasal septa devitalized by subjecting them to either 1) chemical dehydration in ethanol, 2) lyophilization (freeze dry), or 3) repeated freeze-thaw (12 cycles) in liquid nitrogen. The processed cartilages were seeded with chondrocytes isolated from the septa of either the same rabbit or another rabbit and cultured for 4 weeks. They were assessed with a variety of techniques.


RESULTS
The seeded chondrocytes maintained viability on the devitalized cartilage throughout the study period. Two-photon microscopy was effective in assessing the viability of cultured chondrocytes.


CONCLUSIONS
Isolated lagomorph chondrocytes can be maintained in allogenic cartilage grafts devitalized using conventional physicochemical techniques.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first experimental study to demonstrate that cultured chondrocytes can be maintained on devitalized cartilage.
Kelley
Timothy F
TF
Division of Facial Plastic Surgery, Beckman Laser Institute and Medical Clinic, Irvine, CA, USA. TFKMD@yahoo.com
Sutton
Frank M
FM
Wallace
Vincent P
VP
Wong
Brian J F
BJ
D000818:Animals; D002356:Cartilage / Q000166:cytology / Q000637:transplantation* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D017690:Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000502:physiology* / Q000637:transplantation* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D008859:Microscopy, Polarization; D023421:Models, Animal; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000166:cytology; D011817:Rabbits; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous