• Journal of Life Science
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.408-421
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• 2000

We tried to establish the culture method of the chondrocyte isolated from the epiphyseal cartilage and to investigate morphological changes of chondrocyte cultured with enzyme-digested costal cartilage, the perichondrium and experimentally damaged meniscus of rabbit. De novo chondrocyte pellets were prepared from epiphyseal plates by culturing isolated epiphyseal chondrocytes from 4 week. old rabbits. We morphologically assessed the cartilage formation of the chondrocyte culture with enzyme-digested costal carilage, the perichondrial culture, the cultured chondrocytes transplants into experimentally damaged meniscus of rabbits, the perichondrial culture, the cultured chondrocytes transplants into experimentally damaged meniscus of rabbit. In the 24 days, the epiphyseal chondrocytes maintained the typical phenotypes of the partial nodular cell formation. The 30 days cryopreserved chondrocytes showed abnormal and irregular shape. In the type II collagen added culture, the chondrocytes showed expanded rough endoplasmic reticulum and small and large round-like vesicles of processes. In the type IV collagen added culture, the chondrocytes showed large perinuclear vaculoes and abundant well-developed rough endoplasmic reticulum of processes. In the culture with enzyme- digested costal cartilage and the perichondrial culture, the chondrocytes showed a few swelling rough endoplasmic reticulum and vacuoles. The cultured epiphyseal chondrocytes maintained typical phenotype and the chondrocytes were grown faster and maintained more typical phenotype in the type II and IV collagen added culture. The transformed chondrocytes secreted abundant extracellular matrix in the type II collagen added culture, and showed processes in the type IV collagen added culture. The perichondrial chondrocytes were grown faster and their implants were able to transplant. The cultured chondrocytes transplanted into experimentally damaged meniscus were adapted between the meniscus tissues. And the immunocyto-chemical reaction of the type II collagen of the chondrocytes were found to be maintained. The chondrocytes cultured cartilage. The chondrocytes secreted abundantly. The cultured chondrocytes transplanted into experimentally damaged meniscus changed immature cells into enlarged mature cells with extracellular secretion.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.486-496
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• 2011

A special mesenchymal tissue layer called perichondrium has a chondrogenic capacity and is a candidate tissue for engineering of cartilage. To overcome limited potential for chondrocyte proliferation and re-absorption, we studied a method of cartilage tissue engineering comprising chondrocyte-hydrogel pluronic complex (CPC) and cultured perichondrial cell sheet (cPCs) which entirely cover CPC. For effective cartilage regeneration, cell-sheet engineering technique of high-density culture was used for fabrication of cPCs. Hydrogel pluronic as a biomimetic cell carrier used for stable and maintains the chondrocytes. The human cPCs was cultured as a single layer and entirely covered CPC. The tissue engineered constructs were implanted into the dorsal subcutaneous tissue pocket on nude mice (n = 6). CPC without cPCs were used as a controls (N = 6). Engineered cartilage specimens were harvested at 12 weeks after implantation and evaluated with gross morphology and histological examination. Biological analysis was also performed for glycosaminoglycan (GAG) and type II collagen. Indeed, we performed additional in vivo studies of cartilage regeneration using canine large fullthickness chondrial defect model. The dogs were allocated to the experimental groups as treated chondrocyte sheets with perichondrial cell sheet group (n = 4), and chondrocyte sheets only group (n = 4). The histological and biochemical studies performed 12 weeks later as same manners as nude mouse but additional immunofluorescence study. Grossly, the size of cartilage specimen of cPCs covered group was larger than that of the control. On histological examination, the specimen of cPCs covered group showed typical characteristics of cartilage tissue. The contents of GAG and type II collagen were higher in cPCs covered group than that of the control. These studies demonstrated the potential of such CPC/cPCs constructs to support chondrogenesis in vivo. In conclusion, the method of cartilage tissue engineering using cPCs supposed to be an effective method with higher cartilage tissue gain. We suggest a new method of cartilage tissue engineering using cultured perichondrial cell sheet as a promising strategy for cartilage tissue reconstruction.

• International Journal of Stem Cells
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.304-314
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• 2023

Background and Objectives: Ear cartilage malformations are commonly encountered problems in reconstructive surgery, since cartilage has low self-regenerating capacity. Malformations that impose psychological and social burden on one's life are currently treated using ear prosthesis, synthetic implants or autologous flaps from rib cartilage. These approaches are challenging because not only they request high surgical expertise, but also they lack flexibility and induce severe donor-site morbidity. Through the last decade, tissue engineering gained attention where it aims at regenerating human tissues or organs in order to restore normal functions. This technique consists of three main elements, cells, growth factors, and above all, a scaffold that supports cells and guides their behavior. Several studies have investigated different scaffolds prepared from both synthetic or natural materials and their effects on cellular differentiation and behavior. Methods and Results: In this study, we investigated a natural scaffold (alginate) as tridimensional hydrogel seeded with progenitors from different origins such as bone marrow, perichondrium and dental pulp. In contact with the scaffold, these cells remained viable and were able to differentiate into chondrocytes when cultured in vitro. Quantitative and qualitative results show the presence of different chondrogenic markers as well as elastic ones for the purpose of ear cartilage, upon different culture conditions. Conclusions: We confirmed that auricular perichondrial cells outperform other cells to produce chondrogenic tissue in normal oxygen levels and we report for the first time the effect of hypoxia on these cells. Our results provide updates for cartilage engineering for future clinical applications.