토끼 성장판 손상에서 성장판 연골세포의 이식을 통한 성장판의 재생

Abstract

We performed a procedure to transplant cultured growth plate chondrocyte embedded in type Ⅰ collagen gel into the defects of the proximal tibial physis in a 6-week-old rabbit. Twenty eight New Zealand White rabbits were used and were divided into 4 groups, of which the medial half of the proximal epiphyseal plate of the right tibia were excised. In group Ⅰ, the defects were left without collagen gel implantations served as a control. In group Ⅱ, chondrocytes were embedded in collagen gel were inserted into defect, in group Ⅲ, chondrocytes cultured with TGF-β1 in collagen gel, and in group Ⅳ chondrocytes cultured with TGF-β1 in collagen gel three weeks after excision of the growth plate. After transplantations of growth plate chondrocytes, we assessed the varus angulation and the length of tibia, and histological characteristics at 2, 4, 6, 8 and 12 weeks. Bonebridge formation, growth arrest, and varus deformity between the tibial epiphysis and metaphysic were prevented or minimized in group Ⅲ and Ⅳ. The transplanted chondrocyte remained its normal morphology in a columnar arrangement in group Ⅱ, Ⅲ and Ⅳ. These results indicate that it is possible to reduce varus angulation and growth arrest in epiphyseal plate defect of immature rabbits by using cultured chondrocytes embedded in type Ⅰ collagen gel including TGF-β1.