[Ultrastructure of anterior cruciate ligament after transplantation].
OBJECTIVE
To study the characteristics of, morphology histology and ultrastructure of anterior cruciate ligament(ACL) autograft and two-step cryopreserved ACL allograft after transplantation.


METHODS
Sixty New Zealand rabbits and sixty Japanese rabbits were randomly divided into two groups: ACL autograft group and two-step cryopreserved ACL allograft group. Immunosuppressant were not used after transplantation. The histology and ultrastructure of the ACL of transplantation and normal knee were observed after 4 weeks and 12 weeks, respectively.


RESULTS
The rate of remodeling process was faster in ACL autograft than in two-step cryopreserved ACL allograft, but there was similar remodeling process between two groups 12 weeks after transplantation. The proportions of large-diameter fibers(> or = 80 nm) of ACL autograft and cryopreserved ACL allograft were 6% and 24% in the 4th week, and were 0 and 2% in the 12th week, respectively. The proportions of small-diameter of fibers(< 80 nm) of ACL autogrft and cryopreserved ACL allograft were 94% and 76% in the 4th week, and 100% and 98% in the 12th week, respectively. Histologic incorporation in ACL autograft was similar to that in cryopreserved ACL allograft.


CONCLUSIONS
Two-step cryopreserved bone-ACL-bone allograft were similar to bone-ACL-bone autograft cryopreserved in remodeling process and histology. The rate of remodeling process was faster in ACL autograft than in cryopreserved ACL allograft.
Zhang
Chang-chun
CC
Department of Orthopedics, Hospital Affiliated Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui, P. R. China 233004.
Zhou
Jian-sheng
JS
Pan
Gong-ping
GP
D000818:Animals; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000637:transplantation* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D015925:Cryopreservation; D005269:Femur / Q000601:surgery / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000601:surgery; D017847:Patellar Ligament; D011817:Rabbits; D013977:Tibia / Q000601:surgery / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous