Effects of transforming growth factor Beta and insulinlike growth factor 1 on the biomechanical and histologic properties of tissue-engineered cartilage.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the histologic and biomechanical properties of rabbit tissue-engineered cartilage exposed to insulinlike growth factor 1 and transforming growth factor beta.


METHODS
Controlled study.


METHODS
New Zealand white rabbits aged 3 to 4 weeks.


METHODS
A mean of 3.42 million rabbit chondrocytes were placed onto 2 x 1-cm polyglycolic/poly-L-lactic acid mesh templates. One group (n = 21) was placed in complete medium for 4 days. The experimental group (n = 19) was placed into complete medium with insulinlike growth factor 1 (50 ng/mL) and transforming growth factor beta (1 ng/mL). After 96 hours the templates were removed and implanted into the dorsum of the donor rabbit. The templates were harvested after 8 weeks and subjected to gross, histologic, and biomechanical testing.


RESULTS
All samples showed histologic characteristics consistent with normal cartilage. No statistically significant differences were found with biomechanical testing between the control and experimental groups.


CONCLUSIONS
In spite of more promising results from earlier studies, these results do not support improved histologic features or mechanical performance with the addition of insulinlike growth factor 1 and transforming growth factor beta to the chondrocyte/template complex.
Kaplan
Brian A
BA
Division of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, University of Virginia Medical Center, PO Box 800713, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA.
Gorman
Christopher R
CR
Gupta
Atul K
AK
Taylor
S Ray
SR
Iezzoni
Julia C
JC
Park
Stephen S
SS
D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D004425:Ear Cartilage / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000494:pharmacology*; D023421:Models, Animal; D011817:Rabbits; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000494:pharmacology*
D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I