CHONDROCYTE SURVIVAL IN CRYOPRESERVED OSTEOCHONDRAL ARTICULAR-CARTILAGE

Fluorescent staining techniques were used in combination with confocal and conventional fluorescent microscopy to determine the location of viable chondrocytes in frozen and thawed osteochondral articular carti lage. The results showed that cell survival was confined to the superf icial layer of the cartilage matrix. The addition of a cryopreservativ e agent (dimethyl sulfoxide) increased chondrocyte survival but only i n the same layer. There was no evidence of cell survival in the middle or deep layers of the cartilage with or without the use of dimethyl s ulfoxide. Under the conditions employed in this study, chondrocyte sur vival in a cryopreserved osteochondral allograft appears to be limited to the superficial layer of the articular cartilage.