New aspects of articular cartilage transplantation with TEM and SEM

Abstract

Much experimental work has been done in the field of transplantation of articular cartilage. The data are very conflicting. As these investigations were usually performed with routine histological techniques, the ultrastructure and functions of the chondrocytes of the grafts were not examined. Likewise the morphology of the surface, which is the important factor in the function of the joint, was not studied in previous experiments. The purpose of this presentation is to describe the ultrastructure of osteo-chondral grafts to obtain new evidence on the healing process of cartilage transplants.In our experiment osteo-chondral grafts were implanted in 150 animals. The animals were divided into four groups: 1) 30 sheep with fresh homologous grafts, 2) 15 sheep with autologous grafts. 3) 20 rabbits with stored homologous grafts, 4) 35 rabbits with autologous grafts. The grafts consisting of the articular cartilage and a narrow margin of cancellous bone measured 3. 5 mm in thickness.