[The behaviour of rat mandibular condylar cartilage in cell culture]

This study aimed to identify the behaviour of mandibular condylar chondrocytes in vitro. Cells were harvested from the mandibular condyles of 3 week-old S. D. rats. Cell structure, morphology and characteristics were assessed by phase-contrast microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, enzymohistochemistry and immunohistochemistry. The cultured condylar chondrocytes, stellated or spindle-shaped, could grow in several layers and form many cell colonies. They could secret proteoglycans, alkaline phosphatase, type II collagen, et al. The methods of isolation, culture and identification of condylar chondrocytes were presented and discussed, which can be adopted in probing further into the cellular mechanism of functional orthopedics.