摘要
To culture fibroblast cells from th e knee ligaments and to study the biological characteristics of these cells. Methods: Cells of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and the medial collateral ligament (MCL) from New Zealand white rabbit were cultured in vitro. Cellular growth and expression of the collagen were analyzed. Moreover, a n in vitro wound closure model was established and the healing of the ACL and th e MCL cells was compared. Results: Maximal growth for all these cells were obtained with Dulbeccos modified Eagles medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum, b ut RPMI 1640 and Hams F12 media were not suitable to maintain these cells. Mor p hology of both ACL and MCL cells from New Zealand white rabbit was alike in vitr o, but the MCL cells grew faster than the ACL cells. Both cell types produced si milar amount of collagen in culture, but the ratio of collage type Ⅰ to type Ⅲ produced by ACL cells was higher than that produced by MCL cells. Wound closure assay showed that at 36 hours after injury, cell free zones created in the ACL cultures were occupied partially by the ACL cells; in contrast, the wounded zon e in the MCL cultures was almost completely covered by the cells.Conclusions: Although the ACL cells and the MCL cells from New Zealand white rabbit show similar appearance in morphology in culture, the cellu lar growth and the biochemical synthesis of collagen as well as the healing in v itro were significantly different. These differences in intrinsic properties of the two types of cells in vitro might contribute to the differential healing pot entials of these ligaments in vivo.
