[The culture of TMJ condylar cartilage cells and study on their biological behaviors in vitro].

To investigate the behavoir of TMJ condylar cartilage cells in vitro, the mandibular condylar cartilage cells were harvested from a 5-month-old human fetus by dissection and sequential digestion with 0.25% trypsin and 0.2% collagenase (type II). The isolated cells were cultured in DMEM medium and identified by histochemical and immunohistochemical methods. Cell proliferation, morphology and ultrastructure were observed by phase-contrast microscope, cytologic staining and electronic microscope. In primarily cultured cells, polygonal chondroblast-like cells dominated and they were confirmed by the positive result of immunohistochemical examination for type II collagen and Toludin blue staining. In conclusion, the TMJ cells in this culture system kept their phenotype in vivo.