[Influence of different mechanical environments on repair of cartilage defect with rabbit marrow mesenchymal stem cells]

Abstract

Objective: To study the influence of different mechanical environments on repair cartilage defect with marrow mesenchymal stem cells as seed cells.

Methods: The rabbit marrow mesenchymal stem cells were isolated and cultured. The cartilage defects were repaired by autologous tissue engineered cartilage with the marrow mesenchymal stem cells as seed cells. Fifteen rabbits with cartilage defect were divided into 3 groups: dislocation group with cell-free scaffold (control group), dislocation group with cartilaginous construct and normal mechanical environment group with cartilaginous construct. The repaired tissue was harvested and examined 6 weeks postoperatively.

Results: The repair tissue in normal mechanical environment group with cartilaginous construct showed cartilage-like tissue in superficial layer and subchondral bone tissue in deep layer 6 weeks postoperatively. The defect was filled with bone tissue in dislocation group with cartilaginous construct 6 weeks postoperatively. The surrounding normal cartilage tissue showed vascular invasion from subchondral area and the concomitant thinning of the normal cartilage layer. The cartilaginous construct left in the femoral trochlea groove formed hyaline cartilage-like tissue. The defect was repaired by fibrous tissue in control group.

Conclusion: The repaired tissue by tissue engineered cartilage with marrow mesenchymal stem cells as seed cells showed the best result in normal mechanical environment group, which indicates that it will be essential for the formation and maintenance of tissue engineered cartilage to keep the normal mechanical stress stimulus.