Access to Chondrocyte Culture, with Alginate, In Iran

Abstract

In this study, chondrocyte culture was established for the first time in Iran,and calcium alginate was used for longer culture of chondrocyte in vitro. Thestudy was programmed in order to be used for future human chondrocytetransplantation. The cartilage specimen obtained from 50 patients whounderwent total knee and hip operations in Isfahan University of MedicalSciences. Cartilage specimens were used for monolayer as well as suspensionculture in alginate beads. Approximately 12±1 millions cells were harvestedfrom the 3rd passage. The cells were round with large euchromatic nucleusand several nucleoli and small vacuoles. The cells derived from passages 1to 4, which were grown up then, in alginate beads, showed higher stainingwith alcian blue. The harvested cells in some patients were immediately andsuccessfully used for autologus transplantation. This later work will be reportedseparately.

Keywords

• Autologus Chondrocyte Transplantation
• Cell Culture
• Alginate
• Proteoglycan