[Experimental study on repair of articular cartilage defect in large area with chondrocytes cultured on fascia].

OBJECTIVE: To study the biological characteristic and potential of chondrocytes grafting cultured on fascia in repairing large defect of articular cartilage in rabbits. METHODS: Chondrocytes of young rabbits were isolated and sub-cultured on fascia. The large defect of articular cartilage was repaired by grafts of freeze-preserved and fresh chondrocytes cultured on fascia, and free chondrocytes respectively; the biological characteristic and metabolism were evaluated by macroscopic, histological and immunohistochemical observations, autoradiography method and the measurement of nitric oxide content 6, 12, 24 weeks after grafting. RESULTS: The chondrocytes cultured on fascia maintained normal growth feature and metabolism, and there was no damage to chondrocytes after cryopreservation; the repaired cartilage was similar to the normal cartilage in cellular morphology and biological characteristics. CONCLUSION: Chondrocytes could be cultured normally on fascia, which could be used as an ideal carrier of chondrocytes.