[Ultrastructure of cultured cartilage, articular cartilage, growth plate and meniscus].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate possibility of cartilage cultured in centrifuge tube as graft materials.


METHODS
Articular chondrocytes isolated from a 3-week-old rabbit formed cartilage after cultivation for 2 weeks. Articular cartilage of humeral head, growth plate of proximal tibia and meniscus were collected from a 6-week-old rabbit. The ultrastructure of chondrocytes and extracellular matrix in the three kinds of cartilages and cultured cartilage were observed by transmission electronic microscopy.


RESULTS
Cartilage cultured in centrifuge tube possessed unique ultrastructure and was similar to articular cartilage and growth plate, but it was markedly different from meniscus. The four kinds of cartilages were characteristic of respectively different chondrocytes and extracellular matrix. Cultured cartilage showed typical apoptosis of chondrocytes and "dark chondrocytes" appeared in growth plate. Condrocyte apoptosis was not seen in articular cartilage and meniscus.


CONCLUSIONS
Cartilage cultured in centrifuge tube has unique ultrastructure and may be used as graft materials for articular cartilage and growth plate.
Wang
Jian
J
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu Sichuan, P.R. China 610041.
Yang
Zhi-ming
ZM
Qin
Ting-wu
TW
Xie
Hui-qi
HQ
D000818:Animals; D002356:Cartilage / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology; D006132:Growth Plate / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D011817:Rabbits; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods