title: In vivo oxygen tension in human septal cartilage increases with age.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Tissue-engineered septal cartilage may provide a source of autologous cartilage for repair of nasal defects. Production of clinically useful neocartilage involves multiple steps that include manipulating the culture environment. Partial pressure of oxygen (ppO(2) ) is a property that has been shown to influence cartilage development. Specifically, studies suggest low ppO(2) augments in vitro growth of articular cartilage. Although in vivo measurements of articular cartilage ppO(2) have demonstrated hypoxic conditions, measurements have not been performed in septal cartilage. The objective of this study was to determine the ppO(2) of septal cartilage in vivo.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, basic science.
  
  
  METHODS
  The ppO(2) was measured in 14 patients (mean ± standard deviation age, 35.9 ± 14.5 years; range, 18-63 years) during routine septoplasty or septorhinoplasty using the OxyLab pO(2) monitor (Oxford Optronix Ltd., Oxford, UK). Measurements were taken from the septum and inferior turbinate. Each patient's age and sex were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average ppO(2) measured at the septum and inferior turbinate was 10.5 ± 10.1 mm Hg (1.4 ± 1.3%) and 27.6 ± 12.4 mm Hg (3.6 ± 1.6%), respectively. The ppO(2) of these locations was significantly different (P < .005). Advancing age was positively correlated with septal ppO(2) (R(2) = 0.42; P < .05). Septal ppO(2) showed no significant sex variation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first report of in vivo measurement of ppO(2) in septal cartilage. The data demonstrate reduced oxygenation of septal cartilage relative to the inferior turbinate. This elucidates an important characteristic of the in vivo milieu that can be applied to septal cartilage tissue engineering.
authors: Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, California 92161, USA. mkadze@gmail.com
authors: Marsha S
authors: MS
authors: Reuther
authors: Kristen K
authors: KK
authors: Briggs
authors: Barbara L
authors: BL
authors: Schumacher
authors: Koichi
authors: K
authors: Masuda
authors: Robert L
authors: RL
authors: Sah
authors: Deborah
authors: D
authors: Watson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism*; D010313:Partial Pressure; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen