Joint cartilage repair with transplantation of embryonic chondrocytes embedded in collagen-fibrin matrices

• Published in: Clinical and experimental rheumatology Vol. 18; no. 1; pp. 13 - 22
• Main Authors: PERKA, C, SCHULTZ, O, LINDENHAYN, K, SPITZER, R.-S, MUSCHIK, M, SITTINGER, M, BURMESTER, G. R
• Format: Conference Proceeding Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Pisa Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology 2000
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Cartilage - cytology; Cartilage - embryology; Cartilage, Articular - metabolism; Cartilage, Articular - pathology; Cartilage, Articular - physiopathology; Cartilage, Articular - surgery; Cell Transplantation - methods; Chickens; Chondrocytes - transplantation; Collagen - therapeutic use; Fetal Tissue Transplantation - methods; Fibrin - therapeutic use; Gels - therapeutic use; Histocytochemistry; Hyalin - metabolism; Medical sciences; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Technology. Biomaterials. Equipments; Time Factors; Wound Healing; Knee; Animal model; Chondrocyte; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Lower limb; Fibrin; Vertebrata; Orthopedic surgery; Chondropathy; Treatment; Articular cartilage; Embryonic cell; Collagen; Graft; Bone defect; Chicken; Technique; Aves
• ISSN: 0392-856X; 1593-098X

The objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of transplanting embryonic chondrogenic cells within a collagen-fibrin substrate for the reconstitution of full-thickness cartilage defects in chicken knee joints. Full-thickness cartilage defects were created mechanically on the weight-bearing surface of the tibial condyle in 45 adult chickens and subsequently filled with chondrocytes embedded in a chondrocyte-collagen-fibrin gel. The transplants were compared to untreated defects and collagen-fibrin transplants without cells. The results were analyzed using histochemical and morphometrical methods after 3, 12 and 24 weeks. A semiquantitative histological grading system was applied to evaluate the transplant integration and the newly formed cartilage architecture. Chondrocyte-gel grafts developed to hyaline-like cartilage without any granulation tissue in the interface after 3 weeks. After 12 weeks the defects in the experimental group were filled completely with hyaline cartilage. The defects in the control groups in all cases healed with fibrous repair tissue. Fibrin-collagen gel allowed stable graft fixation and provided an adequate microenvironment for embryonic chondrocytes to generate hyaline-like neocartilage in a full-thickness cartilage defect.