RESURFACING OF GOAT ARTICULAR-CARTILAGE BY CHONDROCYTES DERIVED FROM BONE-MARROW

The feasibility of using cartilaginous implants containing bone marrow derived chondrocytes in biological resurfacing procedures for correct ing defects in articular cartilage was examined in goats, The experime ntal protocol included bone marrow aspiration, mesenchymal cell cultur ing, cell proliferation, favorable conditions inducing chondrogenic di fferentiation, and implantation of autogeneic and allogeneic cells. Au togeneic implant transplantations proved to be the best source for reg eneration and repair of defective articular surfaces with use of densi tometric computed image analysis of histochemical and immuno-histochem ical parameters on tissue sections, Allogeneic chondrocyte enriched cu ltures derived from bone marrow evoke a typical immune response in the host, expressed by the formation of fibrosis and progressive joint ar throsis, In the current study, a biological resurfacing procedure is d escribed in detail for large mammals of similar weight and size as hum ans, Autogeneic mesenchymal cells derived from a bone marrow aspiratio n are the best cell source and when embedded in hyaluronic acid based adhesive glue make an excellent cartilaginous implant, The reparative regenerated cartilaginous tissue outcome within the defects appear dif ferent than neighboring normal articular cartilage shortly after surge ry. Whether in the long term the cartilaginous remodelling process wil l shape the cartilage such that it more closely resembles the original articular cartilage is not known.