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Updated: Mar 27, 2026
Athymic Rat Model for Evaluation of Engineered Anterior Cruciate Ligament Grafts
Published on: March 26, 2015
Allograft integration in a rabbit transgenic model for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction
M Bachy1, I Sherifi2, F Zadegan3
1Laboratoire de bioingénierie et bioimagerie ostéo-articulaire (B2OA), CNRS UMR 7052, université Denis-Diderot Paris VII, Paris, France; Université Pierre et Marie Curie Paris 6, Department of Pediatric Orthopaedics, Armand-Trousseau Hospital, 26, avenue du Dr-Arnold-Netter, 75571 Paris cedex 12, France; The MAMUTH Hospital-University Department for Innovative Therapies in Musculoskeletal Diseases, Armand-Trousseau Hospital, 26, avenue du Docteur-Arnold-Netter, 75571 Paris cedex 12, France.
Background:
Tissue engineering strategies include both cell-based and cell homing therapies. Ligamentous tissues are highly specialized and constitute vital components of the musculoskeletal system. Their damage causes significant morbidity and loss in function.
Hypothesis:
The aim of this study is to analyze tendinous graft integration, cell repopulation and ligamentization by using GFP+/- allografts in GFP+/- transgenic New Zealand white (NZW) rabbits.
Material And Methods:
Graft implantation was designed to closely mimic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) repair surgery. Allografts were implanted in 8 NZW rabbits and assessed at 5 days, 3 weeks and 6 weeks through: (1) arthroCT imaging, (2) morphological analysis of the transplanted allograft, (3) histological analysis, (4) collagen type I immunochemistry, and (5) GFP cell tracking. Collagen remodeling was appreciated at 3 and 6 weeks.
Results:
Graft repopulation with host cells, chondrocyte-like cells at the tendon-bone interface and graft corticalization in the bone tunnels were noticed at 3 weeks. By contrast we noticed a central necrosis aspect in the allografts intra-articularly at 6 weeks with a cell migration towards the graft edge near the synovium.
Discussion:
Our study has served to gain a better understanding of tendinous allograft bone integration, ligamentization and allograft repopulation. We believe that both cell-based therapies and cell homing therapies are beneficial in ligament tissue engineering. Future studies may elucidate whether cell repopulation occurs with pre-differentiated or progenitor cells. We believe that both cell-based therapies and cell homing therapies are beneficial in ligament tissue engineering.
Level Of Evidence:
Level V (animal study).
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