Repair of large full-thickness articular cartilage defects in the rabbit: the effects of joint distraction and autologous bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal cell transplantation.
We produced large full-thickness articular cartilage defects in 33 rabbits in order to evaluate the effect of joint distraction and autologous culture-expanded bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal cell transplantation (ACBMT) at 12 weeks. After fixing the knee on a hinged external fixator, we resected the entire surface of the tibial plateau. We studied three groups: 1) with and without joint distraction; 2) with joint distraction and collagen gel, and 3) with joint distraction and ACBMT and collagen gel. The histological scores were significantly higher in the groups with ACBMT collagen gel (p < 0.05). The area of regenerated soft tissue was smaller in the group allowed to bear weight (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that the repair of large defects of cartilage can be enhanced by joint distraction, collagen gel and ACBMT.
Yanai
T
T
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan. yanai@mail1.accsnet.ne.jp
Ishii
T
T
Chang
F
F
Ochiai
N
N
D000818:Animals; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis; D005782:Gels; D006614:Hindlimb; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D007202:Indicators and Reagents / Q000032:analysis; D007596:Joints / Q000601:surgery; D010619:Phenazines / Q000032:analysis; D011817:Rabbits; D012038:Regeneration / Q000502:physiology; D013977:Tibia / Q000601:surgery; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology
D005782:Gels; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D010619:Phenazines; D003094:Collagen; C009195:safranine T