Abstract:

BACKGROUND: The autologous bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and chondrocytes as seed cells can achieve the ideal effect for repairing the articular cartilage defect, but the shortage of seed cells and secondary trauma are difficult problems for researchers.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility for repairing the articular cartilage defect by co-culture of allogenic bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and allogenic chondrocytes mixed with poly lactic-co-glycolic acid.
METHODS: Fifteen New Zealand rabbits were divided into three groups, including experimental group, control group and blank group, and the articular cartilage defect models were prepared. The articular cartilage defect was filled with allogenic bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and the complex of allogenic chondrocytes and poly lactic-co-glycolic acid, autologous bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and the complex of autologous chondrocytes and poly lactic-co-glycolic acid, and the poly lactic-co-glycolic acid copolymer material.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Hematoxylin-eosin and Masson trichrome staining at 12 weeks after operation showed that the chondrocytes could be seen in the articular cartilage defect of the experimental group with round or polygonal-shaped and in a columnar arrangement. The typical cartilage lacunae were formed and a large number of extracellular matrix depositions could be seen and the repaired tissue showed a hyaline cartilage-like and integrated well with the surrounding tissues and closed well with underlying bone. There was no significant difference between the experimental group and the control group; in the blank group, the fiber-like cells could be seen in the articular cartilage defect. It is feasible to repair articular cartilage defect by co-culture of allogenic bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and allogenic chondrocytes mixed with poly lactic-co-glycolic acid.