title: Stored human septal chondrocyte viability analyzed by confocal microscopy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the effects of prolonged storage time, at warm and cold temperatures, on the viability of human nasal septal chondrocytes and to understand the implications for tissue engineering of septal cartilage.
  
  
  METHODS
  Basic science.
  
  
  METHODS
  Septal cartilage was obtained from 10 patients and placed in bacteriostatic isotonic sodium chloride solution. Four specimens were kept at 23 degrees C, and 4 were kept at 4 degrees C. The viability of the chondrocytes within the cartilage was assessed using confocal laser scanning microscopy every 5 days. The 2 other specimens were assessed for viability on the day of harvest.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Viability on the day of harvest was 96%, implying minimal cell death from surgical trauma. After 1 week, cell survival in all specimens was essentially unchanged from the day of harvest. At 23 degrees C, the majority (54%) of cells were alive after 20 days. At 4 degrees C, 70% of cells survived 1 month and 38% were alive at 2 months. Qualitatively, chondrocytes died in a topographically uniform distribution in warm specimens, whereas cold specimens displayed a more irregular pattern of cell death.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Septal chondrocytes remain viable for prolonged periods when stored in simple bacteriostatic isotonic sodium chloride solution, and such survival is enhanced by cold storage.
authors.affiliation: Division of Head and Neck Surgery and Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, Veterans Affairs Hospital 92161, USA. dalahicks@yahoo.com
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Hicks
authors.forename: August B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Sage
authors.forename: Barbara L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Schumacher
authors.forename: Kyle D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Jadin
authors.forename: Ramses M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Agustin
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Sah
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Watson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002470:Cell Survival; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008875:Middle Aged; D009300:Nasal Septum; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D013696:Temperature; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D014021:Tissue Preservation
chemical_list: D012965:Sodium Chloride