EPIPHYSEAL REPLACEMENT IN A MURINE MODEL

Epiphyseal replacement was performed via knee transplantation using do nor tissue of different developmental times in a murine model. The per formance of syngeneic donor tissue in a resection defect in 4-day-old mice of the same inbred strain was assessed over 2 weeks for cell viab ility, tritiated thymidine incorporation, and ability to attract a hos t blood supply, and at 2 months, with the existence of a joint and gro wth. Although there was variability within experimental groups, the sy ngeneic transplant was able to survive pending vascular invasion from the host. Growth occurred, although it never equaled normal growth. On e possible approach to the difficult problem of joint reconstruction i n the immature skeleton is to divide the endeavor into two parts: deve lop models of syngeneic joint transplantation in inbred strains of ani mals to assess the various problems that would occur were this tissue available and develop models of joint ''synthesis'' with autogeneic ch ondrocytes.