A Experimental Study On The Allogenic And Autologous Menisci Transplantation In Rabbits

Objective: To compare the difference of the allogenic and autologous menisci transplantation in rabbits ,and to research the success ratio of the implantation surgery ,the prognosis of the implanted menisci, and to provide the theory basis for the technique of the allogenic meniscus transplantation.Method: 36 adult New Zealand white rabbits,which had been divided equally into group A and group B,all of the rabbits accepted total medial meniscectomy. Allogenic menisci were implanted into the left legs of group A,while the left legs of the group B were dealt with autologous menisci implantation. 6w, 3m and 6m after the operations,rabbits were sacrificed group by group.The implanted menisci were taken for further experiments.The implanted menisci of the knees were studied in histological and immunohistochemical ways. Histological approaches included the HE staining ,Toluidine Blue staining and Masson staning of the menisci. Immunohistochemical staining with the monoclonal antibodies of collagen type I , II was done on menisci.Results: Allogenic grafts grew well in joint cavities and could heal up well with articular capsular,while no significant injury of articular cartilage could be found caused by the protection of implanted allogenic meniscus. Autologous meniscus implantation shared almost the same results as the allogenic ones,the protection of the autologous menicus also led to little articular cartilage injury.The obvious articular cartilage destroy and osteophytes formation were not found in both group. No obvious immunoreactions were observed in allogenic implantation group .Conclusion: The implanted allogenic menisci and autologous menisci could heal up well in knee joint cavities. And both ways show a protective effect to the articular cartilage,and slow down the degeneration of knee.