The in vitro influence of different culture conditions on the potential of sheep rib perichondrium to form hyaline-like cartilage. Evaluation of gluing materials used for in vivo graft fixation.

The effectiveness of autologous rib perichondrium for repair of full-thickness hyaline cartilage defects has been shown experimentally and clinically in various reports. The purpose of this study was to examine the behaviour of sheep rib perichondrial tissue under in vitro conditions and the influence of different culture matrices in order to evaluate possible stimulating effects. Rib perichondrium was obtained from sheep used for an experimental in vivo trial. After removal of adjacent cartilage remnants the tissue was divided and specimens cultured for 14 days in different ways. Explants cultured on collagen sponges (group A), fibrin glue (group B) and cellulose acetate filter (group C) were examined histologically, histochemically, histomorphometrically and autoradiographically. Clear differentiation of perichondrial cells towards a chondrocyte-like cell shape, particularly in the proliferation zone, was noticed on all matrices. These cells synthesized new matrix substances comparable to the ground substance normally present in hyaline cartilage. Morphometric comparison of tissue differentiation on different culture matrices revealed no significant differences in proliferation rates.