CHONDROCYTE BEHAVIOR WITHIN DIFFERENT TYPES OF COLLAGEN GEL IN-VITRO

In cartilage repair experiments chondrocytes are transplanted into ost eochondral defects. Biological substances are used as cell vehicles an d are likely to play an important role in the outcome of these studies . Collagen gel is formed by polymerization of type I collagen and is u sed in plastic surgery and for three-dimensional culture systems. To t est collagen gel as a potential vehicle for transplantation, we evalua ted chondrocyte behaviour in vitro in different collagen gels. Collage n type I was extracted and purified from rat tail tendon and fetal cal f skin and compared with commercially available collagen type I. After suspension of bovine chondrocytes, five different collagen gels were cultured for 14 days and evaluated by light and electron microscopy. C ells proliferated within all gels and synthesized proteoglycans as ass essed by S-35 incorporation; 40-90% of cells maintained a chondrocyte- like morphology after 1 week in culture depending on the type of colla gen gel. Synthetic and secretory activity was confirmed by electron mi croscopy. Based on these results, calf skin collagen is recommended fo r culturing chondrocytes for implantation.