[Repair of rabbit tendon by autologous bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of rabbit bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) as seed cells for the repair of tendon defect.


METHODS
The MSCs were isolated, amplified and identified by detection of surface protein CD44 mRNA. A 3 cm long defect was made in the Achilles tendon of the rabbit. The rabbits were divided into experimental (E) and control (C) groups. The autologous MSCs were implanted into a collagen-polyglycolic acid (PGA) scaffold to form a tissue-engineered tendon, which was then transplanted to bridge the defect in the E group, while only collagen-PGA was transplanted to bridge the defect in the C group. The transplanted tendon was observed grossly and microscopically at 4, 8, 12 weeks after operation.


RESULTS
The cultured MSCs exhibited positive staining of CD44 on 11 days after in vitro culture. A tendon-like tissue could be discerned at the operation site in the E group 4 weeks after operation. Tendon-like cells similar to normal tendon tissue, being axially arranged in collagen matching the mechanical direction, with uniform morphology could be seen in E group 12 weeks after operation. The newly regenerated tissue in C group adhered to the adjacent tissue and was smaller than that in E group. The collagen fibers in the regenerated tissue were loose with reticular and filiform structure, and the cells were arranged disorderly 12 weeks after the transplantation.


CONCLUSIONS
It is feasible to repair the tendon defect with autologous MSCs as seed cells.
Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, P.R. China.
Jian-hong
JH
Long
Min
M
Qi
Xiao-yuan
XY
Huang
Shao-rong
SR
Lei
Li-cheng
LC
Ren
D000125:Achilles Tendon / Q000293:injuries; D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation; D011817:Rabbits; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*