Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells combined with calcium phosphate cement to repair articular cartilage defects in rabbits

Zhou Chang-yan; Zhou Qing-huan; Bian Jing; Chen Ke; Chen Wen

doi:10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344

Abstract：BACKGROUND:In previous experiments, bone marrow mesenchymal cels have been successfuly seeded onto the calcium phosphate cement scaffold, which is confirmed to have good mechanical strength and biocompatibility. OBJECTIVE: To observe the feasibility of rabbit bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels combined with calcium phosphate cements embedded in articular cartilage defects. METHODS:Eighteen New Zealand rabbits were used to create 5 mm bone-cartilage defects on both sides of the mandible, and then, 15 rabbits were randomly selected and implanted with simple calcium phosphate cements into the left bone defects as control group and with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels combined with calcium phosphate cement into the right bone defects as experimental group. Another three rabbits were implanted with nothing as blank group. After transplantation 4, 8, 16 weeks, rabbits from each group were sacrificed. Clinical observation, X-ray imaging, histological observation were performed at different periods. <br> RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:After 4,8,16 weeks, bone tissue regeneration in the experimental group was better than the other two groups in the bone formation speed and quantity. The maturity of new bone tissue, scaffold degradation, bone maturation in the experimental group was better than that in the other two groups. After 16 weeks, the maximum load, maximum stress and damage energy of the bone specimens in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group. These findings indicate that bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels combined with calcium phosphate cement can promote bone regeneration, restore bone stiffness and strength, which is expected to act as a new artificial bone material in repairing bone defects.