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Cryopreserved and Frozen Hyaline Cartilage Imaged by Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope.
An Experimental and Prospective Study
SERGI SASTRE, SANTIAGO SUSO, JOSEP-MARIA SEGUR, GUILLEM BORI, JOSÉ-ANTONIO CARBONELL, ELBA AGUSTÍ, and MONTSE NUÑEZ
ABSTRACT. Methods. The study was based on osteochondral fragments from the internal condyle of the knee joint of New Zealand rabbits, corresponding to the chondral surface from fresh, frozen, and cryopreserved samples. One hundred ESEM images were obtained from each group and then classified according to a validated system. The kappa index and the corresponding concordance index were calculated, and the groups were compared by Pearson's chi-squared test (p < 0.05). Results. The articular surface of cryopreserved osteochondral grafts had fewer even surfaces and filled lacunae and a higher number of empty lacunae as compared to fresh samples; these differences correspond to images of cell membrane lesions that lead to destruction of the chondrocyte. Frozen grafts showed more hillocky and knobby surfaces than did fresh grafts; they also had a greater number of empty chondrocyte lacunae. Conclusion. ESEM is useful for obtaining images of the surface of osteochondral grafts. When compared to fresh samples, cryopreservation in RPMI medium produces changes in the surface of hyaline cartilage, but to a lesser extent than those produced by freezing. (First Release July 1 2008; J Rheumatol 2008;35:1639–44) Key Indexing Terms:
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY From the Knee Unit, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. S. Sastre, PhD; S. Suso, PhD, Professor; J-M. Segur, PhD; G. Bori, MD, Knee Unit, Department of Orthopedic Surgery; J-A. Carbonell, PhD, Department of Orthopedic Surgery; E. Agustí, MD, Department of Biology; M. Nuñez, PhD, Knee Unit, Department of Rheumatology. Address reprint requests to Dr. S. Sartre, Hospital Clínic Barcelona, C/ Villarroel 170, 08036 Barcelona. E-mail: ssastre@clinic.ub.es Accepted for publication March 17, 2008. |
