Abstract:

BACKGROUND: How to save tendon allograft so as to retain its biological activity and reduced its immunogenicity has become a focus in recent years.
OBJECTIVE: To observe the histological changes following anhydrous glycerol preserved tendon allograft transplantation.
METHODS: A special approach was used to process the rabbit tendons, and then the tendons were sealed in anhydrous glycerol at normal atmospheric temperature away from light. The tendons preserved for 7 and 12 months were transplanted into the rabbit flexor tendon in the hind legs. Rabbits were killed after 3 months and the tendon graft was removed. Hematoxylin-eosin staining for paraffin sections as well as the observation of the organizational structure and the morphology of tendons was observed with electron microscope.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The hematoxylin-eosin staining showed that tendon fibers arranged neatly, and cell morphology was normal. No significant inflammatory cells were in eyesight. In some certain regions, cell density in the anhydrous glycerol group was lower than that in the normal group. Under the electron microscope, tendon fibers arranged regularly, and the cell morphology was normal. After preservation with anhydrous glycerol, the tendon allograft is similar to normal tendon histologically, and there is no obvious immunological rejection.