Physeal reconstruction using tissue donated from early postnatal limbs in a murine model.

Physeal reconstruction was performed in a murine model by transplanting corresponding postnatal tissue from 4-day-old C57B mice to resection defects. The site of the reconstruction, the murine distal femoral epiphysis, is completely cartilaginous and avascular at this stage of development. The tissue transplanted into the defect was demonstrated to have high kinetic activity by its incorporation of tritiated thymidine. The physeal reconstruction as performed restored only 25% of normal growth. While transplanting cell populations is feasible, the method will require a great deal of work before clinical application.