[Growth cartilage in rabbits. Culture and cryopreservation]

Growth cartilage were cultured in order to determine whether cartilage growth could replace bone loss and generate autologous bone capable of further growth. An abundant quantity of mature functional chondrocytes is required after culture. Chondrocytes were isolated from a cartilage fragment by enzyme digestion. Trypsin, then collagenase were used as a function of the number of chondrocytes obtained per gram of growth cartilage. The optimal culture conditions were determined on the basis of three parameters: the density of cell seeding and the type and composition of the culture medium. The kinetics of chondrocyte growth and their fixation on different support media as well as their functional capacity was determined in different media according to the following conditions: seeding at 200,000 or 300,000 chondrocytes/cm2 on type 1 collagen and in Hamm-F12 medium without supplementation with growth factors. The first trials of cryopreservation of the chondrocytes after culture gave promising results. Yields, expressed as the percentage of viable cells varied from 91 to 98% depending on the cryoprotective solution used.