Experimental study of three-dimensional culture of marrow stromal cells for repair of articular cartilage defects

Objective: To investigate the effects of three-dimensional culture of bone marrow stromal cells for the repair of articular cartilage defects. Methods: Twenty-four rabbits aged between 4 and 6 months were selected randomly for cells harvest. These cells were cultured for three generations. Then the cells were used to make 1×10⁸/ml suspend, and transplanted into collagenⅠsponge. Two weeks later, the cells were transplanted into self-cartilage with 3.5 mm diameter, and observed in Month One, Two and Three. Results: Bone marrow stromal cells can grow well in collagen Ⅰsponge. The cartilage forms and repairs the chondral defects. The repair organism featured fibro-cartilage in Month One. It showed characteristics of hyaline cartilage in Month Two and biologic functions in Month Three. Conclusions: The engineered cartilage can repair chondral defects and the hyaline cartilage is involved in repair organism.