Low temperature scanning electron microscopy of the superficial envelope of canine chondrocytes in culture

Abstract

Low temperature scanning electron microscopy (LTSEM) has been employed to examine the surface morphology of chondrocyte cultures on ceramic granules. Wellestablished cultures on porous hydroxyapatite consist of ceramic cores overlaid and interspersed with a cellular matrix of collagen and proteoglycan Cheung 1985; of especial interest is the superficial layer of cells. These cells are believed, on the basis of immuno-light microscopy (Gardner et al., 1987), to be coated by an hydrated porous envelope of collagen/proteoglycan which is likely to obscure cell outlines. This relationship is confirmed by enzymic digestion of the superficial material. Postdigestion LTSEM examination of the fully hydrated preparations establishes the existence of arrays of rounded structures identified as superficial cells.