Experimental Study On The Repair Of Articular Cartilage Defects With Bone Marrow Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (BMSCs) And Periosteal Flap Cover In Rabbits

Objectives To establish a method for isolating mesenchymal stem cells from rabbit bone marrow aspirate;to observe the effectiveness of autologous bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells transplantation and periosteal flap cover for the repair of fall-thickness articular cartilage defects.Methods Bone marrow aspirate of New Zealand white rabbits was centrifuged and cultured in plastic culture bottles to isolate BMSCs.BMSCs were cultured and multiplied in vitro,BMSCs were implanted into articular cartilage defects of rabbit knees and covered by autologous periosteal flap.in the control groups,the defects were covered by autologous periosteal flap only or left untreated,the repair tissue were examed grossly,histologically at the end of 6 weeks and 12 weeks.Results BMSCs had a similar spindle-like morphology,in the experimental group,the defects were filled with hyaline-like cartilage at the end of 6 weeks,the cartilage and the subchodral bone were remodeled at the end of 12 weeks after the operation,the expression of typeâ…¡collagen in the repair tissue was verified by immunohistochemistry.In the control groups, the defects were partly filled with chondrocytes-like in the surface and basement or fibrous tissue. There is a difference between the experimental group and the two control groups with Wakitani histological grading system.Conclusions The combination of whole bone marrow and adhere culture is an effective method to isolate BMSCs from bone marrow aspirate,BMSCs cultured in vitro show stable growth,rapid proliferation and may be used in tissue engineering;BMSCs covered by periosteal flap can promote the repair of articular cartilage defects,it may be an available method for clinical treatment of articular cartilage injures before the occurrence of more successful remedial method.