Elastic fiber formation in monolayer and organ cultures of chondrocytes isolated from auricular cartilage.

Chondrocytes were isolated from auricular cartilage of immature rabbits and maintained in monolayer or organ culture for 14 days. In both types of culture the chondrocytes formed conspicuous elastic fibers. In monolayer culture the fibers could be identified by orcein staining in the culture dish. Electron microscopy of organ cultures revealed the presence of two basic components of elastic fibers, i.e. microfibrils and elastin.