Growth and phenotype of low-density nasal septal chondrocyte monolayers.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the growth patterns and differentiation of human septal chondrocyte monolayers of different seeding densities.


METHODS
Chondrocytes from 8 donors were plated at densities ranging from 20,000 cells/cm(2) (high density) to 300 cells/cm(2) (very low density). Confluency, cellularity, and glycosaminoglycan content were determined from days 1 to 15.


RESULTS
Confluency was attained at 5.8, 8.3, 11.0, and 14.8 days for high-, intermediate-, low-, and very low-density monolayers, respectively (P < 0.001). Regression growth curves showed typical lag, logarithmic, and stationary phases. Confluent monolayers attained similar cellularity (power = 0.94) and differentiation (power = 0.88), regardless of initial density.


CONCLUSIONS
Human septal chondrocyte monolayers reach confluency from very low initial densities. Growth patterns, cellularity, and differentiation are similar to other starting densities.


CONCLUSIONS
Very low-density monolayers expanded cell number 838-fold in 1 passage and therefore are sufficient for tissue-engineering purposes. This is important because of the requirement of maintaining differentiation and the limitation of small tissue harvest specimens.
Hicks
David L
DL
Division of Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, San Diego, 92161, USA. dalahicks@yahoo.com
Sage
August B
AB
Schumacher
Barbara L
BL
Sah
Robert L
RL
Watson
Deborah
D
D000328:Adult; D002356:Cartilage / Q000166:cytology; D002452:Cell Count; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development*; D010641:Phenotype; D018911:Trinucleotide Repeats / Q000235:genetics