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Updated: Aug 3, 2026

Surgical Retrieval, Isolation and In vitro Expansion of Human Anterior Cruciate Ligament-derived Cells for Tissue Engineering Applications
Published on: April 30, 2014
[Ultrastructure of anterior cruciate ligament after transplantation]
Chang-chun Zhang1, Jian-sheng Zhou, Gong-ping Pan
1Department of Orthopedics, Hospital Affiliated Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui, P. R. China 233004.
Objective:
To study the characteristics of, morphology histology and ultrastructure of anterior cruciate ligament(ACL) autograft and two-step cryopreserved ACL allograft after transplantation.
Methods:
Sixty New Zealand rabbits and sixty Japanese rabbits were randomly divided into two groups: ACL autograft group and two-step cryopreserved ACL allograft group. Immunosuppressant were not used after transplantation. The histology and ultrastructure of the ACL of transplantation and normal knee were observed after 4 weeks and 12 weeks, respectively.
Results:
The rate of remodeling process was faster in ACL autograft than in two-step cryopreserved ACL allograft, but there was similar remodeling process between two groups 12 weeks after transplantation. The proportions of large-diameter fibers(> or = 80 nm) of ACL autograft and cryopreserved ACL allograft were 6% and 24% in the 4th week, and were 0 and 2% in the 12th week, respectively. The proportions of small-diameter of fibers(< 80 nm) of ACL autogrft and cryopreserved ACL allograft were 94% and 76% in the 4th week, and 100% and 98% in the 12th week, respectively. Histologic incorporation in ACL autograft was similar to that in cryopreserved ACL allograft.
Conclusion:
Two-step cryopreserved bone-ACL-bone allograft were similar to bone-ACL-bone autograft cryopreserved in remodeling process and histology. The rate of remodeling process was faster in ACL autograft than in cryopreserved ACL allograft.

