The fate of host and graft cells in early healing of bone tunnel after tendon graft.
BACKGROUND
The behavior of host and graft cells during the healing process after autologous tendon graft has not been elucidated.


OBJECTIVE
Host cells will integrate into the bone-tendon interface and contribute to cellular repopulation of the graft.


METHODS
Controlled laboratory study.


METHODS
Twelve-week-old, genetically identical, female green fluorescent protein transgenic rats (n = 20) and wild-type rats (n = 20) were used. The rats were divided into 2 experimental groups. In group A, the Achilles tendons of wild-type rats were harvested and transplanted into the transcondylar femoral bone tunnels of green fluorescent protein rats. In group B, the Achilles tendons of green fluorescent protein rats were transplanted into a transcondylar femoral bone tunnel of wild-type rats. Immediately after transplantation (time zero) and at 1, 2, and 4 weeks after the transplantation, distal femoral epiphyses were harvested and cut into 14-mum serial sagittal frozen sections. The sections were examined with a confocal laser-scanning microscope to quantify green fluorescent protein-positive cell survival.


RESULTS
At time zero, only host cells in group A and only graft cells in group B demonstrated green fluorescent protein signals. At 1 week in group A, many green fluorescent protein-positive cells were found in the graft. In group B, a few green fluorescent protein-positive cells were found in the graft. At 2 and 4 weeks in group A, many green fluorescent protein-positive cells were detected in the graft, but green fluorescent protein-positive cells had disappeared completely in group B.


CONCLUSIONS
Host cells, rather than graft cells, contribute to repair of the bone-tendon interface and the remodeling of grafts after simulated autologous tendon graft.
Kobayashi
Masashi
M
Department of Orthopaedics, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kawaramachi-hirokoji, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan.
Watanabe
Nobuyoshi
N
Oshima
Yasushi
Y
Kajikawa
Yoshiteru
Y
Kawata
Mitsuhiro
M
Kubo
Toshikazu
T
D000125:Achilles Tendon / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000637:transplantation*; D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D004838:Epiphyses / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D049408:Luminescent Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D051381:Rats; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*
D049408:Luminescent Agents; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins