title: Relationship between the migratory, metabolic and proliferative ability of fibrochondrocytes and the meniscal fragment size: an in vivo study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the migratory, metabolic and proliferative ability of rabbit fibrochondrocytes in meniscal fragments of different sizes under an in vivo subcutaneous environment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult, male, New Zealand white rabbit menisci were harvested and the inner two-thirds of each were minced into different sizes: 0.5 × 0.5 × 0.5 mm (group A); 1.0 × 1.0 × 1.0 mm (group B); 2.0 × 2.0 × 2.0 mm (group C). Meniscal fragments were packed into a fascia sheath, then implanted subcutaneously. At weeks 1, 2 and 3 postimplantation, meniscal fragments were harvested; cell migration and viability were then evaluated by confocal laser scanning microscopy and haematoxylin and eosin staining. Aggrecan was detected using Safranin O and Fast Green staining, and protein levels of types I and II collagen, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), were evaluated by immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Protein levels of types I and II collagen and PCNA, and fibrochondrocyte migration, were highest in group A compared with groups B and C, but aggrecan staining remained the same across the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was an inverse relationship between the migratory, metabolic and proliferative abilities of rabbit fibrochondrocytes and meniscal fragment size.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central-South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China.
authors.forename: Zhu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: Kang-Hua
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhi-Wei
authors.initials: ZW
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Zi-Xin
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Deng
mesh_terms: D053674:Aggrecans / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002470:Cell Survival; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000378:metabolism; D024043:Collagen Type II / Q000378:metabolism; D005205:Fascia / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D011817:Rabbits; D012867:Skin; D016042:Transplantation, Heterotopic
chemical_list: D053674:Aggrecans; D015415:Biomarkers; D024042:Collagen Type I; D024043:Collagen Type II; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen
keywords: Meniscus; fibrochondrocyte; meniscal fragment; rabbit model; subcutaneous implantation