Chondrocyte behavior in fibrin glue in vitro.

To test fibrin glue as a vehicle in chondrocyte transplantation, chondrocytes, isolated from articular cartilage of young rabbits, were mixed with Tissucol, a highly concentrated fibrin glue, and cultured for 7 days. Histology, autoradiography (35-S) and electron microscopy were used to study chondrocyte behavior and phenotypic expression. Chondrocytes multiplied, retained their morphology, and produced matrix in fibrin glue as long as the cells were surrounded by the glue. Glue disintegration started after 3 days and was accelerated by higher cell concentrations.